Page
Genuone Scotch that never
varies
'White
White Label TEST SCOTCH WHISE
OF GREAT AGE.
Dewar & Sons
DISTILLERS.
PERT
Label" The Right Label
DEWAR'S FAMOUS SCOTCH
Sole Agents:-A. S. WATSON & CO., LTD.
WINE DEPT.
CHATER RD,
TEL. 20616.
The Sign of Perfect Drycleaning
ZORIC
GARMENT CLEANING SYSTEM
FOR ALL TYPES OF CLOTHING AND HOUSEHOLD FABRICS
THE STEAM LAUNDRY CO.
Head Office and Works, Tel. 57032,
Hong-Kong Depot, Tel. 21279. Gloucester Bldg., 2nd Flr.,
Tel. 28938.
Peak Depot: Tel. 29352. Kowloon Depot, Tel. 58545.
Why REPULSE BAY HOTEL
is the Best Spot and "Most Attractive'
in the Summer Time.
""
Warmer weather is near !!
HAVE YOU CONSIDERED A CHANGE
FROM YOUR EVERY-DAY ENVI- RONMENT?
A STAY AT THE REPULSE BAY
HOTEL provides a complete change---- quletude, refreshing soa air, charming gar. den surroundings with sea and sun bath- ing and the "LIDO" adjacent.
Now available an attractive low inclu-
alve summer tariff covering weekly, fortnightly or monthly rates—and a parti» · cularly low-priced, inclusive charge for a week-end.
For particulars apply- THE MANAGEMENT, REPULSE BAY HOTEL, Phone a7775;
DISCORD IN JAPAN GROWS AS
THE CHINA MAIL, APRIL 17, 1941
ARMY DRAGS NATION NEAR TO WAR
(This is the second of six uncensored articles appearing in the "Manila Bulletin" on the Pacific "war of nerves" as seen from within Japan by an American observer).
FOR THE PAST TEN YEARS, Japan has pre- sented a facade of solidarity before the world to hide a bitter and almost continuous internal division.
The cleavage between the "military mind” and the "international mind" is even sharper to-day as the islands stand on the edge of a decision that may mean erasure of the Japanese empire.
Eye On U.S.
mised reopening of the Yangtze. river, Us far as Hankow. To Americans. it was only a minor concession, but to the Japanese it was a great retrogressive step to demonstrate the islands' sincere desire for friendship.
Although there was considerable optimism In Tokyo after this pro- mise, relations were not improved and the.cabinet fell on its inabil- Ity to solve American issues, Diplomats and Admiral Nomura knew the river would never be reopened, even as a gesture. The reason: Army officers were mak- ing too much money by running their transports as monopolistic cargo boats.
Despite the expressions of in- when it is impracticable although greedy and ambitious Bulte loyalty and patriotism which possibly essential. pour endlessly out of Tokyo, i domestic discord is one of the major reasons why army extre- mists have staked out a claim on the rich areas of south-eastern Asia and the South Sens.
The division has become grea- ter as the army drags the nation closer to war with the United States-a War which so-called conservative elements in the is- lands believe would reduce Ja- pan to beggary.
Army extremists are not only but they are notoriously bigoted. Through- out Japan's modern history they have consistently underrated their enemies the record shows that The fleet's reluctance to act the Russo-Japanese war might now is based on a sincere re- have been lost if President Roo- gard for the American navy's sevelt had not intervened. The
brief
China and that army underestimated prowess, plus the Russia would take advantage completely misjudged the Soviet of the situation to attack the is at Nomonhan. Incidentally, in that lands, which the navy is pledg-highly important battle German ed to defend.
mechanised units were tried out
Navy discipline is excellent. So for the first time-on the Russians' the entire service conforms when side. the Tokyo staff officers agree on Now the army has underesti- But, paradoxical as it may seem, a policy, regardless of whatever mated the United States; both her if such a war occurs Japan pro- arguments may have been provok- power and, until lately, her will- Egged on by bably would become completely ed previously while plans were ingress to. fight. united for the first time since under discussion. At present, the their Nazi friends, the extremists the dictators of the Shogunate. navy seems decided upon as-are willing to risk war in further- The "emergency perlod" within! sistance to the army in consolidat-ance of their own schemes and to
French Japan began
Indo-protect their own position. Back- in 1931 when ing positions in Kwangtung and Korean division China and in moving cautiouslying them are likeminded business- officers precipitated the Man-against Great Britain, through men; the carpetbaggers who have moriey in Manchukuo churian incident without troubl- Thailand and by a constant threat made
That they through monopolistic enterprises ing to notify Tokyo beforehand. against. Hong Kong. This was the "big putsch" by the want to avoid immediate friction and who are trying to do the same "younger officers" to give the with the United States is under- in north China. From the people
the bulk they draw army political mastery
easily swayed Ja lined by the fact that the of
of the fleet's striking power is superpatriots. pan through imperialism.
The campaign continued through now in Japanese waters, off Kyu- subsequent clashes in China, shu island, for "manoeuvres." the leading to the outbreak of China affair in July 1937. The army rode high during the first two years of that war.
Historic Urge
Swept On Tide
The army comes from a dif-
is In opposition the present Its officers for the ferent strain. most part are educated in Japan government, an admitted minority in power by the and Germany, whereas the navy which is held travels to Britain and the United influence of Prince Konoye's posi- States.
afficers
tion as a member of one of Japan's Army
accept Prussianism as the modern equi-great familles. An influential in-
vastly
dustrial group supports the gov- overrated Now, these officers are looking valent of the toward further conquests, despite code of the old samurai, or two-ernment while fighting the army's schemes for planned economy as the risks involved in a South Seas sword feudal mercenaries.
totalitarian Discipline in the Japanese army control. These are the pro-Ameri
a major step toward campaign and in disregard of
Tokyo has continuing China warfare. There is shockingly bad. are a variety of political and comparatively little control over cah businessmen who realise that
in
profits would be-most-stable- economic factors impelling the staff headquarters
Nanking "Southward march," in addition and Hsinking, which in turn can through friendship with China and who also fealise Japan's to Japan's historic urge for em-hold field officers in check only
economic ties with the United. in proportion to the personal pres-States. pire.
Not the least of these is the tige of the respective commanders there is no army's desire to gloss over its in chief. Moreover, failures in China and to main unity between the north and south or between those tain its domestic control by divert-China armies, ing public attention toward
units and the crack Kwangtung new field: The navy would be army in Manchukuo, forced to undertake the hazardous southern campaign. The navy also must assume responsibility for defending Japan proper, If Russia chooses to strike.
ค
Success in new impertaliam would indirectly benefit the
islands."
Nomonhan Mess
The government itself is being Ewept along by the constant encroachments of the Nazi- 'minded "military men:
He has opposed the creation of a single party based on the Nazi system, but the drive lately has been renewed. His ministers met
This situation is exemplified by defeat in an attempt to absolutely
a multitude of examples, including control industry, but now a cam-
the
same
of course the Manchurian incident,paign is under way which will More recently was the mess pre- accomplish virtually cipitated by the Kwangtung army purpose, army, which originated the when it led itself into a disastrous Foreign Minister Matsuoka him- drive "to obtain the raw ma- defeat at Nomonhan in 1939, self tormed this domestic fight as terials which nature denied our against Tokyo orders. The "peace-a conflict between imperialists and Fallure la something, ful" entry in Indo-China last year the elements which do not want the military mind” never con- cost hundreds of lives because "conquest, exploitation
and op- templates.
fleld officers refused at first to pression." He added, "upon its The situation, of course, has obey the orders of General Nishi- outcome depends the fate of the intensified the traditional rivalry hara, Tokyo's negotiator at Hanol. Japanese empire." between the army and the navy, which has existed since the Re- sforation, when "officers of the two services were drawn from rival clans. Furthermore, the navy on the whole is more in- telligent, more widely travelled and more alert to the tremen- dous risks involved in any push southward.
This "dual government” has Conservatives see only one solu- been a major impediment to tion to this situation - an outright improvement of American army dictatorship. This alone, Japanese relations, Army units they say, would enable Tokyo to or individual officers act in control its men in the field, be- dependently in China, and cause then an acknowledged army Tokyo must back them up or government would be forced to "lose face."
assume responsibility for mistakes The laughably impotent foreign abroad. These mistakes now are office and even the Tokyo wär attributed not to the army, but ministry are powerless to assure to the helpless civilians behind it. Washington that there will be any The army, however, has refused improvement in the China situa- until now to be drawn into such a tion. The United States must, position. Obviously, the domestic A partial brake to the vigorous of course, deal with Tokyo. But, ba'tle will include in the future attempt to force
Navy Acts As Brake
The havy, so far, has applied
expansionist schemes of the more radical army officers, pri- while platitudes are mouthed dur- an intensified marily because fleet leaders dreading diplomatie negotiations, ir them into the forefront. Shrewd responsible officers contravene polities muy accomplish the trick, war with the United States.
which Washington demanded. set- ilement, Admiral Kichisaburo Nomura, How ambassador to
In this, the navy has the active them by their actions in the field, but even the conservatives are not
The most fagtant example of optimistic. support of more conservative army this occurred early in 1940 when officers in Tokyo, a substantial
EVEN IN JAPAN. THE PEO- section of powerful industrial America and Japan had made the figures, and more cautious bur- greatest strides toward improved PLE HOLD THE FINAL KEY TO Felations since the outbreak of THE SITUATION. THEY ARE caucrats, Including Premier Prince the Sino-Japanese war precipitat- STIRRING NOW; Funlmaro Konoyo, Surprisingly enough, the latter group is often ed in hundreds of "cases" upon supported by the brilliant but ambitious and unpredictable för- eign minister Yosuko Matsübká,
This does not mean that all Washington, was foreign minister. haval dfficers advocate restraint. He represented the pro-American taction which still believes that The fleet original the "south-
The Bishop of Woolwelh (Dr. ward scheme many years ago, friendship with the traited States Lang), who had not thrown a dirt sonsing that the South Seas pre- is essential for Japan's continued for ten years, recently visited a public shelter and defeated the sented a richer field than Man international life. churia, where the army was in-
sholter's chimpfor."--
Japan northward and delayed the
THE HONG KONG & SHANGHAI HOTELS, LTD. | [erested. The 1981 coup-turned
Namura Mission
BISHOP IŠ DARTS
DUCHAMP!!
The Bishop told civil defence As first proof of his good in-workers of his success at a special--
| southern : plan until the present, | tention, Admiral Nomura pro- ] service.