JAPANESE ARMY OUT OF HAND?

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 70, 15 December 1937, Page 5

JAPANESE ARMY OUT OF HAND?

p Pfess Association—

(Bv Telegrapli— Pei

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(Received 15, 8.45 a.m.) NEW YORK,' December 14. ~ Higb Administration officials state that only an apology fioin Imperor Hirohito for the Panay bombing, coilpled with assttrances ihattbe Japanese Government will take effective measures againsi * siihilar incident in the future, will satisfy President Roosevelt, gays the United Press Washington correspondent in a copyright message. , The apology mnst be designed to bait what the United States jSoVernihent has eome to regard as a travesty of world peace, illustrated by the faeility with which the Japanese Government and military leaders #polOgise and express regrets for repeated outrages and then proceed to new similar and graver incidents. Officials emphasised that while it is too early to discnss what further action the United States Government might take in the ffveht of President Roosevelt's demands not being satisfied, there are several measures all short of war through which it would be possible to injure the finances, trade and prestige of the Japanese Government. Meanwliile, the best-informed circles consider that fresident ROosevelt has given Japanese militarists a bitter pill to Swallow by pointing out that he demands an apology from Emperor Hirohito. It is believed that this will involve the Japanese General Staff high naval command in the greatest loss of face that Japan has suffered since she became One of the dcminant Powers, because it will draw the sacred personage of the Emperor into world aftairs tnd compel liim to apologise for the acts oi his military and naval forces. _ Itt addition, the threat- of further action is considered all the more serious on account of the Governmental and public ire in Britain over the attacks on British warships. It is believed that the British Government will support any action by the United States Government, Or act along parallel lines. The Shanghai correspondent of the New York Times reports that Admiral Hasegawa stated that he was prepared to accept "fullest personal responsibility," probably implying his willingness to resign and perhaps even to commit harakiri if investigation proves what has long been suspected by foreign military circles that the ydunger Japanese army and navy officers are eompletely out of hand and are defying discipline. Meanwhile, according to a British Official Wireless message, Mr. Anthony Eden, answering a qnestion in the House of Commons, etated that the Government had under nrgelit consideration, the poSition created throUgh the attacks on shipping on the Yangtse river and expeeted to be able to make a statement on the position to-morrow.