JAPAN AND FASCISM

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 600, 3 August 1933, Page 7

JAPAN AND FASCISM

CHANGES PENDING YOUNGER GENERATION LOOKS TO ITALY AND GERMANY RADICAL TENDENCIES' At the time when the pewly appointed Japanese Ambassador. presented his credentials in Berlin, he openly spoke of the great sympathy the Hitler Government and its policy were finding in Japan, Japan has always been a country with a mor'e or less dictatorial form of government excereised by one of the two principal parties, which have been relieving each other in the direction of government affairs practically every two years. The present Cabinet, headed by Admiral Saito, is one of the rare instances of a coalition government in the history of Japan, and in it almost equal numbers 'of seats are held by the Seiyukai and the Minseito Parties. Coalition Governments have. been appointed in Japan only in times of notional emergency, the present after the assassination of Premier Inukai by a group of officers and cadets in the month of May, 1932, and have never been of long duration. So already rumours are ripe regarding an impending change of Government; and this in spite of the fact that the Saito Cabinet has done its work soundly without much ado or talking, which should be considered a great achievement in such times of political complications as those occasioned by the oceupation of Manchuria, the unofficial war with China, which has been terminated only recently, and difficulties of a financial and economic nature. However, this time a change of Cabinet will perhaps not be that routine affair which has prevailed ever since the establishment of the Japanese Parliamentary system. New forces have sprurig up in recent years, with tendencies very similar to those that found expression in Italian Fascism and German National Socalism. They represent the younger generation, the people who, in one way or another, will be called upon to rule the destinies of a country which is Australia's closest and most powerful neighbour. War Worship. As in a number of other countries, the Parliamentary system is becoming more and more unpopular among the masses of the people. Both political parties are sorely lacking leadership and effective reconstruction programmes. In fact, since the assassinations of Hamaguchi (Minseito) and Inukai (Seiyukai), no prominent men have appeared upon the political horizon of the two parties. Moreover, their programmes are practically indentical, except that the Minseito are in favour of extravagant expenses for economic development, whilst the Seiyukai insist upon a policy of rigid economy. Both parties are representatives of the capitalist interests of the country, and as such have fallen into great disfavour with both the military and naval eliques, because for reasons of budgetary and financial expediency the politicans always opposed the ever-growing demands for military and naval appropriations. At the present time of Japan's territorial expension, which is far from being terminated, it is only natural that the militarists have a great deal to say. And, undoubtedly, General Arak, the Minister for War is not only the most powerful, but also the most popular man in present-day Japan. It is through the War Office which through the various associations of ex-service men, exercises a decisive influence upon the many patriotic and nationalist organisations, the public opinion in Japan is mainly formed and directed. Thijs Japanese Fjascdst movement has been growing gradually in the course of the past few years, but up till now has kept in the background, even lacking rpresentation in Parliament. But this year, particulaily after Hitler's coming to power in Germany, the new movement is gaining importance, and finding expression in pamphlets and in the Press. Spread of Communism

The standpoint of the military m this matter will be understood when one realises that there are strong Radical tendencies among an influential part of the Japanese intelligentsia, where learnings afe to be found even towards Communistie doetrines. Quite recently, when the Government dismissed Professor Takikawa, of Kyoto University, who had published a book with Radical tendencies, the whole Faculty of Law of that university tendered treir resignation. Moreover, Communistie influences have been growing among tbe working class, and even the farmers, who have been partieularly hit by the depression. The new political movement m Japan demands the establishment of concentration, of a Cabinet formed without any regard for the existing political parties. The establishment of a dictatorship on Italian and German lines in Japan which is already being looked upon with certain apprehensions by her neighbours, will be far from allaying the fears regarding further Japanese fexpansionest policy, and this ilbt only on the Asiatic mainland, where the flag of the Rising Sun already has conquered tremendous areas, but also on the route to Australia. The military have had their wiay — Manchuria and Inner Mongolia have been virtually added to Japan s possessions. Other territories may follow. The day of the naval meh will ■also come, sooner or later.