1941-07-17 — Page 2

THE CHINA MAIL, JULY 17, 1941.

EXTREMISTS TAKING SADDLE? Japanese Cabinet Resignation

A LITTLE WIDE OF MARK

Members of the State

Department have refused to comment on the Jap-

anese Cabinet resigna tions pending further

details.

TKU

Mr. Summer Welles. Under- Secretary of State, told his press

he had received conference official information yet.

It

In is generally believed Washington that the conserva-

out the army-controlled Gov-

All Indications

NANKING

Of End To Party RESHUFFLE

Influences

PREDICTED

Rumours are rife that

THE JAPANESE CABINET HAS RESIGNED EN BLOC, AC- there will be a drastic re- CORDING TO AN OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT IN TOKYO shuffle of the personnel LAST EVENING, IN ORDER TO MAKE ROOM FOR A STRONG- of the puppet Nanking ER GOVERNMENT TO COPE WITH THE NATIONAL AND IN- | government following the TERNATIONAL SITUATION.

return of Wang Ching-t

The present Cabinet will remain in office for the time being wei from Japan, says a under Imperial orders.

The Emperor and Empress, who have

tive business group has forced been holidaying in the country, returned ernment and, if so, this could immediately to Tokyo yesterday, an indica- America, according to officials. tion that a very serious situation is confront-

be of extreme Importance

to

It is stated in Washington that

President Roosevelt had hopeding the country.

that this might sometime occur and had therefore avoided any serious break with Japan in re- cent weeks. Reuter.

JAPANESE BUSINESS ATTITUDE

Announcement of the resignation of the Cabinet came after an extraordinary Cabinet meeting which took place at the official re- sidence of the Premier, Prince Konoye, earlier in the evening.

It was reported that the Cabinet discuss- ed an "important subject."

move-

Following the Cabinet's resigna- my presence on the Cabinet Ad- tina, authoritative Government visory Council is not in keeping

Tokyo stated circles in

there with the new structure would be no change in the Gov-ment." ertument's basic policies in either Japanese business eir-the domestic or the international

filet. cles are inclined to be more friendly to Ameri- and less anxious to cooperate with the Axis.

ca

The firm policy of Britain and America in the Pacific is bellev- ed to have upset Japanese foreign policy in some degree, in the view of some observers in Washington yesterday.

The Anglo-Soviet Part has also

Official disclosure of the re- signation was made suddenly and sensationally about

40 minutes after Prince Konoya had returned from Hayama Imperial villa, where the Pre- mier was granted a 25-minute audience by the Emperor.

The resignation was decided on ut the emergency Cabinet meet ing held at the Premier's official proved an embarrassment to residence at 5.30. After the meet- Japan, causing some popular dising the Premier entrained direct content which has possibly

ly for Hayama. strengthened the hands uf the busines group.- Reuter,

YOMIURI'S USUAL

Konoye's Work

Mr. Kuhara said he was dissa tisfied with the liquidated political parties still wielding influence.

He felt called upon to resign since he Joined tho Cabinet Council as president of the Kuhara faction.

0000

U.S. AIR PATROLS IN AZORES AREA?

He declared his conviction that

present emergency | ♦♦ Japan in the must follow a course neither pat- terned after American Democracy nor totalitarianism modelled upon the Gerinan pattern but a policy based on "total cooperation of the people."

He said that in order to realise this ideal it was necessary imme- diately to eliminate certain dis- at united political activities as present there was no room left in individual politicul

Prince Konoye returned to Japan for Tokyo at 9.40 p.m. and called groups to attempt to assert their another Cabinet meeting.

Outstanding events in Japan's history during the year-long tenure of Prince Konoye's Cabinet included:

[SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL"]

The Tukyo newspaper First, the dissolution of all "Yomiuri" charged yesterday that political parties in the movement American warships are "encircl-

for inauguration of a totalitarian ing" the Japanese mandated is national structure, which result- ed in the creation of the "National

lands.

The paper warned the Japanese

navy to keep a close watch on the American Fleet, "which is now standing by to clear decks at a moment s News Service.

Service Association.""

Second, conclusion Tripartite Alliance, bound together notice."International

Japan Germany and Italy. Third, signature of the

CHINA AND MUTUAL king

ASSISTANCE

of

the which with

Sino-

power.-Reuter.

BREAKING UP BROKEN

HILL

Senator Burton K. Wheeler, the isola- tionist leader, yester- day called on Col. Frank Knox, the Navy

Secretary, to state whether United States

warplanes were patrolling the Atlan- tic in the vicinity of the Azores.

Senator Wheeler said he was advised by in trans- passengers

that Atlantic ships

such activity was un- der way.---Reuter.

Shanghai dispatch.

are

The Japanese authorities that. said to be insisting

Wan

of Keh-min, former "Chairman the North China Political Affairs Commission," and Chen Chung- of the fu, former "Chairman" defunct "Reformed Government in Nanking," should join Nan- of new "Minister king while a Finance" should be appointed to.. [replace Chow Fu-hai.

that

to

They have suggested Wang Ching-wei be "Chairman of the Nanking Government," Chen Kung-po be appointed "Pre- Yuan," sident of the Executive Chow Fu-hai be transferred

of "Mayor

Shanghai," Kiang Kang-hu, be appointed "Chair- man of the Overseas Affairs ¡Commission," and Wang Keh- min and Chen Chung-fu be made "Minister of Finance" and "Pre- sident of Legislative Yuan."

to

Wang Ching-wei is trying defer the reshuffle on the ground that such drastic changes may affect smooth working.-Central 00000¢ News,

SHARP DIVISIONS BROUGHT END

TO CABINET

(By O. M. Green, Reuter's Far Eastern expert and former Editor of the "North-China Daily News.”)

IT IS GENERALLY BELIEVED THAT THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN → SHARPLY DIVIDED AS TO WHAT SHOULD

Japanese Treaty with the Nan-

A demand that Govern-BE DONE IN VIEW OF THE GERMAN INVA- government headed by Wang Ching-wel, on November ment should act imme-SION OF RUSSIA.

30 last year.

diately against monopo- Fourth, conclusion of the Neu- trality Pact with the Soviet Union lies and "assume control

chì, Chinese Foreign Minister, Minister, Mr.

The extremist party led by Mr. Matsuoka,

A proposal that Mr. Quo Tal-on April 13 while the Foreign of the Broken Hill Pro- the Foreign Minister, and General Tojo, State prietory Company in the Minister for War, are believed to have

interests of the nation,"

Matsuoka, was should immediately take up nego- en route home after his tiations with Britain, the United visits to Berlin and Rome. States and possibly Russia, to

assistance in the present war,

against the Axis powers and for The new development wipes out!

Indo-

devise concrete plans for mutual Politicians Jettisoned was made at a sitting of strongly urged that Japan should seize the

the Australian Advisory opportunity for further expansion the reconstruction of the world the last vestiges of the political War Council yesterday.

China. after the war, was made yesterday parties' influence in Japanese poli- by, the "Ta Kung Pao," influential tics. Chungking daily, in a leading article.-Reuter.

BOMBER DOWNED

A few enemy aircraft operated off our coasts yesterday but none flew overland, states an Air Minis- try of Home Security commuhl- que,

The demand was made by Mr. Forde, Deputy Leader of the Aus Mr. Fusanosuke Kuhara, trallan Labour Party, on behalf of former President of the Kuhara his fellow councillors, Mr. N. faction of the Salyukal Party, Maicin, Mr. J. A. Beagley and Mr. has resigned his post as mombor Herbert Evatt.. of the Cabinet Advisory Coun oll which he had held sinco December, 1939.

The Government formally” ac-| cepted Mr. Kuhara's resignation, which was handed, in at 3 p.m. to]

On the other hand the more nervous

at the strain on the finances and hen

moderate politicians led by Baron Japanese

economic position due to the war Hiranuma; Minister of Interior, in China. who is known for his cautiousness

"We have been disturbed, by and strength of mind and who was Forced By Army the apparent digjhelination of brought into the Cabinet by the

While the reasons for the 20- this company to submit to Premier, Princo Konoye, lust speedy conciliation in minor dia- December, in order to support him signation of the Japanese Govern- putes which may lead to major against the extremists are be- ment must be pure speculation at stoppages. Mr. Forde, said. lieved to have favoured a watch-present, It seems probable that Mr. Curtin, Australian Labouring policy, until events in Europe the diversion of opinion between the two factions was so acute that leader. concurred with Mr. Forde's should be more clear. Twe statement..

This section of the Government [the extremists, led by the Army, The Broken Hill Proprietary is believed to have been strongly forced a resignation in the hopo Mr. Kuhara said: "As an old Company is a well-known com supported by, Big Business in of carrying their polley, with a guard member of a political party pany-Reuter.

Japan which is becoming very new government-Routor,"

Not In Keeping

Up to 0 p.m. no reports were the Premier, received of any bombs dropped.

An enemy bomber was shot down yesterday morning off the South

coast by our fighters. Reuter,