NEW JAPANESE CABINET “ON WAR FOOTING”

Southland Times, Issue 24492, 21 July 1941, Page 5

NEW JAPANESE CABINET “ON WAR FOOTING”

INTERNATIONAL POLICY SETTLED

(United Press Association—Telegraph Copyright) (Rec. 7 p.m.) TOKYO, July 19. The Prime Minister, Prince Fumimaro Konoye, announced that the new Government would function on a war footing. Japan’s policy of coping with the international situation had already been fixed and it now remained for the Government to put it into practice with decision and speed. The Japan Times-Advertiser says a “Roosevelt Wall” is being built and strengthened about Japan’s eastern front, which threatens the safety of this empire. The time for Japan to take forceful measures in her own interests is now before the throttling circle becomes too strong and dangerous. The Kokumin Shimbun (the Army newspaper) says the fundamental problems are the Siberian question and American encirclement of Japan. The future foreign policy will be to destroy third Power machinations against Japan’s “New Order in Asia.” The Tokyo vernacular newspapers predict a long life for the new Cabinet, with reorganization and stabilization of the internal political scene. As the fundamental policy is unchanged the Government will not issue a platform statement. However, it is expected to clarify its policy to the Press after a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday. The Asahi Shimbun says the Foreign Minister, Admiral Toyada, in an interview, defined the fundamental policy as a settlement of the China affair. Japan’s established national policy remained immovable and immutable. However, it was his opinion that it might be necessary to take a free view of diplomacy to make it suit the day-to-day international situation.

The new Japanese Cabinet formed by Prince Konoye was announced in Tokyo today. The principal change is that Mr Yosuke Matsuoka has been superseded in the office of Foreign Minister by Admiral Toyada, a former naval attache in London. The members of the new Cabinet are: PRIME MINISTER.—Prince Fumimaro Konoye. . , FOREIGN MINISTER.—AdmiraI Toyada. MINISTER FOR WAR.—LieutenantGeneral Hideki Tojo. MINISTER FOR THE NAVY—ViceAdmiral Kashiro Oikawa, who is joint Minister of Justice with Prince Konoye. OVERSEAS MlNlSTER.—LieutenantGeneral Shinzo Koizumi, concurrently with Admiral Toyada and LieutenantGeneral Soroku Suzuki. HOME AFFAIRS—Mr Shickiroku Tanabe. FINANCE.—Mr Masatsune Ogura. RAILWAYS AND COMMUNICATIONS.—Mr Shozo Murata. COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY.— Vice-Admiral Masazo Sakonji. EDUCATION.—Mr Kiuiihiko Hashida. AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY. —Mr Koname Ino. WELFARE. — Lieutenant-General Shinzo Koizumi. MINISTER WITHOUT PORTFOLIO. —Baron Kiichiro Hiranuma. PRESIDENT OF THE CABINET PLANNING BOARD.—LieutenantGeneral Soroku Suzuki. It is reported that the Vice Foreign Minister, Mr Chuichi Hashi, and Mr Ryatoro Honda, the Ambassador to Nanking, have resigned. It is believed they took this action out of sympathy with Mr Matsuoka.

rapid strengthening of Japan’s wartime structure. The main lines of national policy established at the Imperial Conference on July 2 remain immutable and independent of the Cabinet. “SEMI-MILITARY” CABINET According to a message from Chungking the Foreign Minister, Dr Quo Taichi, in an interview with the United Press of America, pointed out the unprecedented number of army and naval men in the new Japanese Cabinet, for which reason he considered it was a semi-military Cabinet, designed fully to prepare for Japan’s contemplated military moves. He said that when preparations had been completed Japan would be ready to strike. Dr Quo Tai-chi gave a warning that the Cabinet would appear outwardly civilian, which would enable Japan It extract the last benefits from American and British circles.

The officially inspired Japan Times says that the new Government will enable Japan to get on with the work of settling the Chinese problem. This is the basis of the new Government’s programme. ATTITUDE RESERVED The attitude in authoritative circles in London towards the composition of the new Japanese Cabinet is reserved for the time being and it is felt unwise to attempt to draw conclusions as to future Japanese action, states a message from Rugby. The dropping of Mi’ Matsuoka and the pro-Axis extremists has, however, been duly noted together with the inclusion of the wellknown former Prime Minister, Baron Hiranuma, and the big business representative, Mr Ogura. Baron Hiranuma has been known as a super-nationalist, but during his period of office as Prime Minister in 1939 he appeared to make genuine efforts to steer a middle course and to harmonize the views of the reactionaries and the more liberal elements. While the new Government’s policy is still unknown the preliminary disposition is to conclude that it will pursue a course strictly in accordance with purely Japanese aims. The British United Press correspondent says the Japanese Press viewed the dropping of Mr Matsuoka with satisfaction, attacking his recent policies, particularly the Russian Pact. The Press claims that what Japan needs is a man able to see at least a year ahead. “FREE FOREIGN POLICY” The Domei News Agency said it would be the new Government’s mission to guide Japan along the lines of a free foreign policy. Third Powers unfriendly towards Japan may exploit the Cabinet changes and broadcast false propaganda as though Japan’s foreign policy would be altered, but this would be only wishful thinking. British and American circles generally welcome Admiral Toyada’s appointment, believing that it foreshadows a more conservative policy. They point out that the Cabinet is strongly nationalistic and suggest that it is likely to follow an opportunist policy, but do not believe the Cabinet will commit itself to conflicting treaty obligations. The Chinese newspapers are content. The chief motive of the reorganization of the Cabinet is to tear up the neutrality agreement with Russia. The Army and Navy in a joint statement | called on the nation to unite in the I

The Foreign Office spokesman said Prince Konoye had formed a “water bird” Cabinet, meaning a calm surface concealing great activity underneath. Despite its conservative appearance, the new Cabinet would be certain to move soon, either northward or southward. The Information Board spokesman, Mr Nobumi Ito, said the outbreak of the Russian-German war had brought a very great change in the world situation. Japan, after Crete, expected that Germany would attack England instead of Russia. “Some people think Britain, America and Russia will pit themselves against Germany, Japan and Italy and finally the ideological war will begin,” he said. “However, the situation is not so simple, so I think it is dangerous to rush to any rash conclusions.” He expressed the opinion that further changes of national alignments were possible on the lines of Russia’s shift from Germany to Britain, for which reason one could not rely on others. Mr Ito did not mention Japan’s relations with the Axis during his long international review.

LESSENING OF TENSION NOT EXPECTED (Rec. 7.30 p.m.) WASHINGTON, July Observers here believe that the new Japanese Cabinet offers scant hope of improved relations with Britain and the United States or any lessening of the tension in the Pacific. A Batavia message says that authoritative opinion in Batavia is that Japan will not attack Russia, but peaceful or warlike penetration of IndoChina can be expected momentarily. Further large reinforcements of Royal Air Force airmen have arrived at Singapore from England.