TWO MODERATES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 79, 21 July 1944, Page 5

TWO MODERATES

KOISO AND YONAI EXTREMIST CLIQUE LIKELY TO GO Rec. 10.45 a.m.) New York, July 20. The announcement that two moderates. General Koiso and Admiral Yonai have been entrusted with the formation of the new Japanese Government confirmed the belief that the extremist military clique which put Tojo in and engineered the Pearl Harbour attack has lost control in Japan, says the United Press. The move is regarded as the first step towards an ultimate Japanese attempt to win a negotiated peace, though no immediate peace bid is expected. Sources familiar with Japan's political situation suggest that the new Cabinet would attempt to intensify Japan's war effort and then give way to another Government within a few months as Allied successes in the Pacific mount. Only when a wholly civilian government comes into power will Japan really tx-y to withdraw from the war. The Associated Press of America points out that Koiso and Yonai are both known as aggressive proponents of Japanese expansion. The designation of these two men to form a new Government in co-operation is unprecedented. It signifies the determination to combine all the elements of the Army and Navy in the Government to cope with the acknowledged peril of defeat. The Chungking correspondent of fhe Associated Press of America says the Chinese linked Tojo’s fall to Saipan's loss, and it is also believed here that Tojo’s resignation resulted from a feeling among the Japanese people that the props under the empire are becoming insecure. The Chinese hoped that n good bombing of Tokio would be staged soon to strengthen such a con-

viction. There is much speculation whether a change of Government presages a change of strategy by which the Japanese would concentrate on halting the American advance instead cf expending blood and treasure in China.