MILITARY GROUP WARNED

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18273, 16 December 1933, Page 7

MILITARY GROUP WARNED

BY TOKIO NEWSPAPER DANGER OF GOING TOO FAR TOKIO, Nov. 9. The most outspoken public criticism of the military group in Japan since the outbreak of the Manchurian incident was voiced in an editorial published by the newspaper Yomiuri, which warns the military against “going too far." The Japanese press, for the past two years, has been virtually muzzled, fearing that criticism of the military would make it the target of reactionaries in sympathy with that group. “In history,” the Yomiuri declares, “an evil going too far has brought about the downfall of many. German militarism went too far, and was crushed, and there are many other examples. “In Japan, at the moment, there is a certain group which is taking advantage of events and gathering great prestige. This group is elated over its success. Many of its leaders have powers of reason and exert cool judgment, but we warn them that they are not alive to tho danger of going too far.

“There are already ample indications of this. The leaders of the group are beginning to neglect consideration for others and there are signs that they will be ruthless, ignore obstacles and, eventually, overstep bounds.

“We do not doubt that this group is intensely patriotic, but patriotism is not a monopoly of theirs. There are a great many other groups just as patriotic, and perhaps even'more so.

“We know that this certain group will lead to destruction and that fulfilment of its aims would upset Japanese equilibrium. Ostensibly, the group has immense support, but the real extent of that support is open to doubt. There is no doubt the group is mistaken as to tho number of its genuine followers.”