JAPAN'S CRISIS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22355, 28 February 1936, Page 11

JAPAN'S CRISIS

TENSION RELIEVED THE PALACE GUARDED LOYALISTS IN ARMY DEALING WITH EEBELS PERSUASIVE METHODS _ -1} By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright ■ • (Received February 27, 5.5 p.m.) Times Cable _ LONDON, Feb. 27 The Tokio correspondent of the . Times says the tension caused by the military rising was relieved ' when it became known that loyal troops guarded the Palace, to which statesmen were admitted in order to attend a Privy Council. The Emperor presided. The revolutionaries had not made preparations to take over the Government. Authoritative circles believe the v Army as a whole is not affected and that hunger and discipline will bring the mutineers to their senses. Another correspondent states that the Emperor has requested the actingPrime Minister, Mr. F. Goto, formerly Minister of the Interior, and his col•v* leagues to reassu.me office. High military authorities are endeavouring to persuade the mutineers, who still control several Government departments,- to return to their commands. They will use force only as a last resort. THE CONSPIRATORS 1 ONLY ONE REGIMENT OTHER TROOPS STAND OUT (Received February 27. 10.25 p.m.) Timas Cable LONDON. Feb. 27 The rigid Japanese censorship precludes the making of a reliable estimate of the** gravity of the Tokio coup. It still appears that only one regiment was involved, though messages from Peking state that civilians also participated. The Times says those responsible for " tho rising clearly decided that -for the fulfilment of their aims it was necessary to put some of the leading moderate politicians out of the way. It is noteworthy, however, that ceftain moderates who would be naturally regarded by the conspirators as standing too near the Emperor have been spared, including Prince Saionji, the last traditional elder statesman, now aged 90, Mr. Yuasima, Minister of the Imperial ' Household, General Kawashima, Minister of War, and Mr. Matsudaira, Ambassador to Britain, who is visiting Tokio. The Times add» that the immediate future of Japan must depend upon whether these tried moderates are able to gain the Emperor's ear. Their ability to do so seems to depend in turn upon the balance of the forces within the Army. The Tokio correspondent of the f. Times says that persons with access to , the fullest information are confident that the Army as a whole is not affected. The Daily .Mail's Tokio correspondent pays most of the troops which form the Tokio garrison, including the Imperial Guards, refused to participate in the coup, which .clearly was well planned. The troops recently had been practising night marches before going to Manchukuo and their appearance in the streets before dawn passed unnoticed. They carried lists of the intended victims in their pockets. SECRET SOCIETIES YEARS OF TERRORISM RUTHLESS YOUNG OFFICERS (Received February 27. 5.5 p.m.) Times Cable LONDON, Feb. 26 The Shanghai correspondent of the Times says that although the unexpected strength of the Radical vote in th<j recent elections in Japan was unpalatable to the Army, more resentment ; was felt by young officers owing to the calling pf General Nazaki as a witness at the trial of the "patriotic" Lieuten-ant-Colonel Saburo Aizawa, who shot General ,Nagata, Director of Military Affairs. i The Times states that Japan's secret societies for years have menaced the Government and terrorised a,nd sometimes murdered Ministers. This time the Government would seem to be compelled to take up the challenge of the ruthless young officers. The spark which caused the explosion apparently was the trial of LieutenantColonel Aizawa, whose murder of General Nagata was the reply of the young offirers' party to General Nagata's attempts to check military dictation in; politics. General Nagata had dismissed General Nazaki and it is significant that General Nazaki's successor, General Watanabe, was among those murdered. , The revolutionaries' manifesto resembled Lieutenant-Colonel Aizawa's plea for the killing of General Nagata, because lie was in league with those who were frustrating the fulfilment of Japanese national life and encouraging vacillation toward China. The most disquieting feature, says the Times, is the public's tolerance of patriotic societies and terrorism. AMBASSADOR CALM ORDER ' QUICKLY RESTORED WASHINGTON. Feb. 20 The Japanese Ambassador, Mr. Hiroshi Saito. who is receiving full reports ot' the rising in Tokio, says there will' be no fundamental change in the Government. The assassinations did not represent a military coup by any of the heads, but rather an outbreak by young Army officers impassioned by patriotic idealism. There was no attempt tcfr take control of the Government, and order quickly followed the action of the Imperial Guard in taking command of the situation. Air. Saito said he envisaged the revolt as a protest against what the group of young officers involved considered to bo the military caution of leading Cabinet officers.