Hope Abandoned

Manawatu Times, Volume LVI, Issue 7063, 24 January 1933, Page 7

Hope Abandoned

Conciliation in Far East

LEAGUE ASSEMBLY TO DECIDE

United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright GENEVA, Jan. 22. The Committee of Nineteen has abandoned hope of Sino-Japanese conciliation, though any interim compromise proposals will be considered pending reference of the situation to the Assembly, which must decide early in Pebruary whether conciliation is actually hopeless.

Herriot Attacks Japan PREPARING TO DOMINATE CHINA Received Monday, 10.30 p.m. LONDON, Jan. 3. The Times’ Paris correspondent says M. Horriot, ex-Premier, in an exceptionally frank article in “Excelsior,” declares that tho Chinese vorsion of ovents in Manchuria seems more credible than tho Japanese. While the white races are speechifying, Japan is preparing to dominate China, ultimately establishing a yellow supremacy over tho whites. America’s absence from tho League provents the latter playing her proper part, and if she continues helpless tho effect will be disastrous, resulting in a gradual return of the Tuie of force instead of the rule of law.

Japan’s Control of Jehol

CREATION OF NEUTRAL ZONE “CONCILIATORY SPIRIT ’’ LONDON, Jan. 13. Tho Times soys that a statement issued by tho Tokyo War Office leaves little doubt that Japan’s object is to obtain control of the Provinco of Jehol, tho mastor of which can overawe the. northern region of China proper. Politically its value is enhanced by the largo revenue from opium. Tho Japanese authorities are convinced that the gist of the anti-Japanese agitation is the three eastern provinces largely supplied by Jehol, and that their pacification is impossible while the Uoveimn of Jehol is uncontrolled and unfriendly. Tho main Japanese proposal is that Shanhaikuan should be regarded henceforth as a neutral zone. The plan has much to recommend it, and affords proof of Japan’s conciliatory spirit. At Shanhaikuan & slight response by Marshal Chang to the Japanese proposals might have established tranquillity. Tho key point of tho matter is tho profound concern of all the Powers that if the fighting spreads south to tho Great Wall they could hardly remain inactive longer.

Japan’s Mussolini ARAKI DOES NOT SHIRK LIMELIGHT. Though General Minami was appointed Minister of War professedly because he was a strong man and there are great events ponding in Manchuria, no sooner was tho conquest of Manchuria well under way that there was a demand for a still stronger man, and General Araki succeeded Minami, says a writer in the ‘Manchester Guardian.' Whatever the degree of his suongtn Araki never shirks publicity. Every day one sees in the Japanese newspapers photograhs of tho Cabinet, with General Araki very prominent in the midst—Araki with his staff, Araki in the bosom of his family, or granting interviews to emissaries from Manchukuo, or meeting foreign notables —always the keen-oyed little man iu;» a big moustache dominates tho picture. He sees to that.

His pronouncements aro less frequent than his photographs, but ho is always ready to talk ; and he is positive regarding the position in manchuria, tho need for immediate recognition, and the benefits that will result to everybody. Ordinarily tho Minister of War feels the competition of the Chief of the General Staff, who is in many ways tho more powerful man ; bilt soon after the Manchurian business began Imperial princes were appointed as Chiefs of the Army and Navy General Staffs—which is convenient, for an Imperial prince is abovo criticism, whereas, powerful though the Chief or Staff may be, one can say what one likes about him if he is merely a general officer. So General Araki has a monopoly in speaking for tho army, and ho is said to be tho idol and patron of the young officers' societies, one of Which accomplished the murder of Premier Inukai—a crime for which the culprits have not yet been brought to justico. General Araki is also the idol and patron of the cx-soldiers’ associations, which are said to have a membership of four millions. “Purifying Politics.”

At the time of Inukai's murder it was freely given out that tho deed was done as a sign of tho disgust of the nation, at tho corruption and futility of tho political parties. It is with luese facts in view that we must observe an “exclusive” report that apeared in the ‘Kokumpin,’ a Tokio daily whose policy seems to swerve between an cXtremo militarism and an outspokenness that sometimes looks like Liberalism. The ‘Kokomin’ announces that the Minister of War is about to launch a movement for tho purification of politics ; and to this end he held a preliminary meeting at the Military Club at Kudan, Tokio. There were present four army leaders besides himself, and about a hundred other persons, including representatives of Mitsui, Mitsubishi, Okura, and Sumitomo —the four greatest firms in Japan, who all owe substantial proportions of their prosperity to contracts performed for tho Government, particularly for the army. The rest consisted of good men and true, mainly ex-soldiers now prosperous in business. In the course of a flve-houra' confer-

enco they decided that if something were not done parliamentary corruption might seriously compromise the future interests of the State. To prevent this disaster they agreed to mobilise tho entire force of tho oxsoldiers' societies throughout tho country as well as that of financial leaders of military antecedents. General Araki expressed tho greatest regret that the Diet was so little representative of the people who elect it ; it is popularly called “monkey business,” and it must bo restored to a place of honour in the public esteem. Italian Inspiration. The means for doing this are very interesting. According to tho ‘Kolcumin,’ it was decided at tho meeting that anybody desiring to present a petition to the Diet must first consult the ex-soldiers’ society and then tho young men’s association (of which thero is one iii every village), so that only such petitions as reflect tho true wishes of tho people generally may bo laid before tho Diet, and only such candidates ax have tho true interests of tho State at heart shall be returned to the Diet, all professional politicians being rojocted.

The ‘Kokumin’ owns that tho idea is not strictly original, but nan an Italian inspiration. It describes briefly how tho Fascists reformed tho Italian Parliament, and says: “From this movement emerged Mussolini.” It did not consider it necessary to prophesy who would emerge from tho new movement in Japan.

The military authorities deny the accuracy of tho ‘Kokumin’ report, and say that tho meeting discussed employment for ex-soldiers. If tho story is fictitious tho writer was merely carrying a step further the ideas which have boon sedulously promoted of late, and if ho was sensational ho was less so than tho young officers who murdered the Premier.