THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT
31
FAR EASTERN (JAPAN).
CONFIDENTIAL.
November 1, 1939.
SECTION 1.
[F 11413/23/23]
Copy No. 135
Mr. Dodds to Viscount Halifax.-(Received November 1.)
(No. 614.) My Lord,
Tokyo, September 11, 1939. AFTER the resignation of the Hiranuma Cabinet no time was lost by the advisers to the throne in completing the formalities which in this country normally accompany the selection of a new Prime Minister. A few hours after Baron Hiranuma had submitted his own resignation and that of his colleagues, Mr. Yuasa, Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal, was despatched to consult Prince Saionji at his summer residence in Gotemba, and by the evening of the same day it was officially announced that General Nobuyuki Abe had received the Imperial Command to form a Cabinet.
2. For some days before the Prime Minister's resignation there had been great activity in high circles. Prince Konoe, President of the Privy Council and Minister without portfolio, had returned from Karuizawa to the capital, and a series of important conferences had taken place, at which it is evident that plans were laid for a speedy clarification of the internal political situation. There is good reason to believe that the three first candidates considered were General Ugaki, Mr. Hirota and General Abe, in that order. There was in many quarters an earnest desire that the first-named might be selected, but it may, I think, be taken for granted that his position vis-à-vis the army is still such as to have rendered it impossible for him to have accepted the responsibility of forming a Cabinet. Moreover, the circumstances in which, less than a year ago, he resigned from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs have not been forgotten, and I have heard it said on several occasions that the time is not yet ripe for his reappearance in the political arena. It is possible that somewhat similar reasons militated against the selection of Mr. Hirota; and it was in these circumstances that the choice of His Majesty's advisers fell upon General Abe.
3. The new Prime Minister is well known as a soldier, but his capabilities as a politician are quite unknown. He is remarkable for the fact that during the greater part of his career he has held executive positions, and he is the only one on the list of generals who has not received the decoration of the Golden Kite, a reward which is reserved as a recognition of services in the field. He is, however, generally regarded as a capable executive officer, and it is recalled that during his tenure of office as Vice-Minister for War under General Ugaki- he acted for some months as Minister in the latter's absence through illness. He has, moreover, a reputation for being straightforward and frank, and according to the military attaché to this embassy he has kept himself physically fit and is of extreme mental alertness, in addition to having a cheerful outlook on life and being a "good mixer." It is true that his foreign affiliations are mainly German, but according to General Piggott he is by no means pro-German, but is regarded rather as being neutral in his sympathies towards foreign countries. His appoint- ment is said to be supported wholeheartedly by the army.
4. General Abe was at the time of the incident of the 26th February, 1936, a member of the Supreme War Council, but resigned with General Araki and several other generals out of a sense of responsibility for the part taken by the army in the assassination of high Government officials. Since that time he has lived in retirement until a few months ago, when he was nominated by Prince Konoe to be Director in Chief of the Toa Dobunkai (East Asia Culture Society), which was instituted some years ago by Prince Konoe's father and of which Prince Konoe himself is now president. It appears that this society is purely cultural in its purposes; but it is perhaps not without significance that Baron Hiranuma's successor should be one who has recently been closely associated with Prince Konoe, for the latter, although he has lately taken no active part in the administration of affairs, has yet, as Minister without portfolio, undoubtedly exerted considerable influence from behind the scenes. I may add
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