WAR IN THE EAST

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22922, 28 December 1937, Page 12

WAR IN THE EAST

JAPANESE AGGRESSION WORK OF THE MILITARY • FOREIGN OFFICE OPPOSED That the war between Japan and China has arisen through the Japanese Army and Navy "taking the bit between their teeth" and that it is by no means approved by the Japanese Foreign Office, is the opinion expressed in a recent leading article in the Overland China Mail, published in Hongkong. "A new development in Japan, a new liberty to the press," it says, "suggests that if the Japanese Foreign Office could control the situation there is very little doubt that they would put a* stop to the present invasion of China. But the civilian Cabinet, unfortunately, has very little voice in the conduct of affairs when once war has broken out, much less than in the critical days before war when the Army still has the biggest say on the question of whether warlike or diplomatic measures are the more appropriate to the occasion. "No one can really understand Japan or her actions until he has realised the dyarchic character of her constitution. When a tew decades ago she determined to become modern' and democratic she retained one fatal link with her feudal and military past. The soldier caste remained free and independent and was placed in supreme charge of 'defence.' 'The military leaders in the sacred name of 'defence' decide and act without any regard to what the Foreign Office is doing, often without acquainting that office of its inteutions. The plans for military action ip 1931 and the earlier steps taken in execution of those plans are known to have been made by the Army chiefs entirely on their own initiative. The civilian Cabinet was ignorant of what was being done, although ultimately it was compelled to follow suit in a policy, originally distasteful to itself, that meant finally a breach with the League of Nations and the loss of friendship with Britain and the United States. "The Foreign Office in Japan probably dislikes the present war intensely, for in the background it knows the dangers which are ignored by the militarist. That world opinion is beginning to have an effect is perhaps evident from the fact that the Foreign Office at Tokio is now encouraging the Japanese press to publish what is being said abroad, so that .the Japanese people may become fully aware of the manner in whioh her war activities are sympathy."