Japan Tightens its Control on Ex-Servicemen

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 37, 13 February 1937, Page 11 (Supplement)

Japan Tightens its Control on Ex-Servicemen

TOKYO.—Tho Imperial Ex-Service-men's Association, which, with its 3,UUU,OOU members, all former soldiers and sailors, organised in 15,U1)U local groujis througliout the country, constitutes one of Japan's largest organisations, has been recently reorganised ana placed under tho direct control of tlie Ministers of War and Navy, who will Henceforward appoint tho Head of tho association. The effect of this change, which was announced through au imperial ordinance ,is to substitute direct lor indirect military and naval control and to establish more responsibility for the political activities of the reservists. Hitherto the association has been a iiintl of happy hunting ground for retired generais and admirals, who, in Japan as in other countries, are apt to cherish strongly conservative views. Its public expressions of opinion have been strongly influences by tno * * Aleinnkai" —Boicety of Higher Ethics —a conservative and predominantly militarist body I which repudiates tho wilder terrorist methods of tho most extremo nationalists, but is strongly opposed to liberalism, constitutionalism and other supposedly subversive “isms." Last year the Association of Exrfcrvicemen ropeateuiy dragged up the so-called Minooo Theory, according to which the power of tho Hiuperor is subject to certain constitutional limitations, as a stick with which to beat tho mildly liberal Ukada Cabinet, which was machine-gunned out of existence by the outbreak of February Ul3, IUJIi. It may bo doubted how much the simple-minded peasants and fishermen who make up a large part of the rank-and-iile membership of the association know ok caro about niceties of constitutinal interpretation. But to the majority of high military and naval oflicers auy theory that denies absolute power of tho Emperor or seems to justify parliamentuy interference in military and naval affairs is as the traditional red rag to a bull.

Japanese press comments on tho now status of Ihe association has been somowhat mixed. It is recognised that more responsibility will presumably bo euformed in the political utterances of tho association and that it cannot so easily bo used as a means of embarrassing future Cabinets, since the War and Navy Ministers aro sponsers lor its leadership. At the same time, tho piac-

lug of tho association under such direct military uud naval control may conceivably inllueuco its members as citizeus and turn out ultimately as a step toward that complete totalitarian j mobilisation of Japan's human and material resources which is the ideal of some of the younger militarists.