TOJO NOW JAPAN'S DICTATOR

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24825, 23 February 1944, Page 3

TOJO NOW JAPAN'S DICTATOR

POLICY HAS FOLLOWED NAZI PATTERN

ADMINISTRATION CHANGES TRACED

By a Correspondent

There was a time when the most able statesmen of Japan looked to the democratic nations as their model. The phase passed. The Japanese to-day—or those at least among their ruling classes who have seized the power of government—have made their spiritual home in Germany. The stages on this road are of absorbing interest. It is significant that there appear to be few records in Japan of revolutionary outbreaks. This is largely due to the philosophy of Shinto which for centuries has been the instrument by which the Japanese have been "conditioned" to the thought that their whole nation is a brotherhood descended from the gods. In that no other nation can lay claim to such distinction, it is clear to every Japanese from his youth up—in fact, his Government takes pains to see he learns the lesson —that the day will dawn in which Japan will become master of the earth. Hitler might well be envious at such a thorough preparation of the ground, forming the perfect seedbed for the germination of dictatorship. An educated Japanese will sav that. Shinto is an attitude to life, and that to speak of it as a religion is unsound. This statement is no doubt correct as a description of the attitude of those who rule. Sincerity in application of religious principles has never been an attitude of those in power in Japan. Dust in Foreign Eyes Thus Fukurjawa, prominent in education, wrote in 1884: "The civilised nations of Europe and America hate always held that non-Christian countries could not be trusted as enlightened nations. Such being the case, if we desire to maintain our intercourse with Western nations on the basis of international law, it is first of all absolutely necessary that we remove completely the stigma from our land of being an anti-Christian country, and obtain the recognition of fellowship by the adoption of their social colour. ... It would he sufficient to make it publicly known that Japan is a Christian country. . . . We do not mean that the majority of our countrymen should he Christians." This passage sheds important light upon the character of those who rule Japan. Thev have consistently attempted to throw dust in foreign eyes, as is quite evident from a perusal of the passage quoted, and they have also most successfully deluded the great bulk of their own people. Shinto is propagated by the (government among the people because, in its present form! it is a mighty ally in the fight to make the Japanese a master nation, but that is not all.

"the establishment of a new^ national political system for Japan," involving in effect the death of liberal institutions. The world at large and Japan s people were not informed so crudely ol the ultimate result to be obtained; they were told rather that it was desired "to renovate and to improve the system." . But the newspaper Asahi shed some light when it declared that "if the Government adheres to the conventional parliamentary system it will be out of pace, with the times." A Government announcement read, in part: "The world stands* at a momentous, historic point, and it is about to witness the creation of new forms of government, economy, and culture, based upon the growth and development of sundry groups of nations." That was in August, 1939. Hitler attacked the Poles just a month later. Prince lvoiioye. of course, gave assurances that his new policy was aimed at "the establishment of world peace in accordance with the spirit of Ifakko lchiu." This last phrase implies "eight corners of the world under one root." World peace, presumably, would come when the whole world was saiely housed under Japan's protecting wings. Pearl Harbour Attack

Internal changes were ostensibly directed to securing more effective government and greater unity among all sections of the people. The means used included dissolution of existing parties and the concentration of increasing power in the Prime Minister. Thus Government departments were reduced by more than half and power taken for the "scrutiny" of lists of candidates for Parliament. Every step taken was a step toward dictatorship on Nazi lines.

On October 16, 1941. the present Premier, Lieutenant - General Tojo, formed his Ministry. A few weeks later Japan's planes rained bombs upon Pearl Harbour. Japan's Fuehrer has now taken over the supreme command of his armed forces and become in name, as well as fact, Dictator; but the step will help his hard-pressed soldiers just about as much as Hitler'B similar experiment in Russia.

It is no less a force for bolstering internal power, with its explicit teaching that the Emperor rules as a god, and that his rule must not be questioned. The harsh facts, of course, are different; the Emperor has little power, and is a tool made use of by the ruling clique. Mr. J. C. Grew, former United States Ambassador in Tokyo, has stated "that the Emperor attempted to restrain his High Command from making war against Great Britain and America. The fact that he was over-ruled is evidence that he has been divested of all real authority. Two Standards It must be emphasised, however, that there are two standards in Japan —the simple standard of the common people, credulous and law-abiding, and the cynical and single-minded policy of those who rule. In the same deceitful way that it was suggested Japan should announce herself as "Christian," so every change affecting her own people is dressed up in pious trappings. This is to be remembered in assessing changes made in Japan's system of administration, and, no less, in the digesting of the "explanations" tendered.

Latest communiques tell of the placing of still wider powers in Tojo's already burdened hands. Tojo is Prime Minister, as well as Minister of War, of Industries and Commerce, and of Education. lie has now become commander of the Army in addition. It would be hard to draw a line between such powers and those of Hitler. _ While the superficial explanation of the change is that it is made necessary by the heavy blow struck by tho naval and air forces of America at Truk, and thus is purely a war measure, it may be pointed out that for some years administration in Japan has taken colour from the Fascist model, and this latest change conforms entirely to the pattern. Tojo may have feared conspiracy and used tho opportunity presented by the recent severe setback to secure himself and his administration against intrigue emanating from the Army or the Navy. His excuse, no doubt, will be the "need for a more vigorous and successful prosecution of the war." But there is evidence that his most recent move is but a culmination of plans laid some years ago. Right of Entry Demanded

In 1853, when Perry's squadron from America knocked at her door and forcefully demanded right of entry, Japan's Government was isolationist and feudal. So much so, in fact, that Japanese were not allowed to leave their country; foreign visitors were subject to the penalty of death. Commodore Perry's work resulted in treaty with America, followed by similar trade treaties with Great Britain and with France. Not many years elapsed before the stimulus of trade and intercourse with foreigners led to most drastic changes in the institutions of the country.

To the casual eye Japan was "Westernised" and made great haste in the adoption of the forms of European government, as well as in the use or adaptation of industrial inventions from the West. The 19th century was the great age of liberal thought, so it is not surprising that the constitution formulated by the Japanese in 1889 was, on its face at least, a liberal document. Liberal in name, this constitution contained seeds of its own death; the Cabinet was not to be responsible to Parliament, but to the Fmperor. This resulted in a Ministry which could secure the backing of the Army and the Navy being able frequently to snap its fingers at the views of the elected Parliament. With the Cabinet's aid small cliques of influential nobles retained considerable power. Japan was never a democracy of the British model. However, democracy was s!ill a catchcry, and as Fukurjawa pointed out the "fads" of Western Kurope wore to be respected; only thus could Japan worm her way into the comity of nations. ■ Joined League o! Nations

At the outbreak of hostilities in 1911, in compliance with her treaty obligations and with an "eye to the main chance," the Japanese made haste to declare war. The uineteen-twenties certainly were not the time to damage tho facade of democratic institutions; Japan joined the League of Nations and sought every benefit to be obtained from her association with the nations of the West.

Her war on China was explainable to her own people as a step in the nation's great destiny—and by this time her leaders thought Japan strong enough lit risk collision with opinion in the West, A few years later she turned thoughtful eyes upon the rise ol Hitler. Here was a movement with which ruling classes in Japan could sympathise. It was in line with their own aspirations. They watched warily to see what action the democracies * would take. In 1939 the Premier announced