THE JAPANESE CABINET

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25208, 24 April 1943, Page 5

THE JAPANESE CABINET

CHANGES ANNOUNCED NEW YORK, Apl. 21. Sweeping changes in the Japanese Cabinet are reported by the United Press, which quotes the Domei News Agency. The Foreign Minister, Mr Tani, is replaced by Mr Shigemitsu, Ambassador to Nanking, and formerly Ambassador to Britain and Russia. The Home Secretary, Mr Yuzawa, is replaced by General Kisamburo Ando. The Premier, General Tojo, takes over Education from Mr Hashida, and Mr Yamazaki replaces the Agriculture Minister, Mr Ino. The United Press regards Mr Shigemitsu’s appointment as most important, and is of the opinion that General Tojo may desire, first, to have a Foreign Minister with many Anglo-American acquaintances to extricate Japan in the event of the Axis partners collapsing; secondly, General Tojo may contemplate an attempt to mediate between Germany and Russia, and Mr Shigemitsu would be the logical choice for the role. “ Unconditional surrender applies with certainty and precision to any plans Japan may have for a negotiated peace,” said the Secretary of State, Mr Cordell Hull, addressing a press conference in Washington. Reporters referred to the elevation of Mr Shigemitsu to the Foreign Ministry in the light of his reputed conciliatory attitude towards Anglo-Saxons and the suggestions in diplomatic circles that his appointment might foreshadow a Japanese peace offensive. Mr Hull reminded his questioners that last week when the Spanish peace proposals came up he pointed out that President Roosevelt had repeatedly stated that the Government’s attitude of unconditional surrender was the sole and determined objective of the United Nations.