Murder, Muto & Manchuria

"The Serbians," remarked Prince Bismarck with diplomatic nicety, "are not a people, they are a profession." Putting the same thought crudely, Kaiser Wilhelm II blurted, "Serbians! What are Serbians? Assassins!" Last week even warm friends of Japan asked each other what kind of a nation Japan is.

Cause of their asking was the following train of events: Premier Ki Inukai was assassinated by Japanese cadets (TIME, May 23). War Minister Lieut. General Sadao Araki, who should thereupon have resigned (according to Japanese tradi tion), did not resign but accepted the resignation of General Nobuyoshi Miito, who was then Director of Military Education and directly responsible for the cadets. General Miito, far from being demoted after his resignation, was assigned to the Supreme War Council (TIME, June 6). Last week came a climax. General Miito, it was reported, is to be sent to Manchuria in supreme command of 1) the Government of the Japanese Leased [from China] Territory of Kwantung; 2) the Japanese Kwantung Army; 3) the Japanese Army in Manchuria proper and all parts of the so-called independent state of "Manchoukuo"; 4) all Japanese con suls throughout Manchoukuo.

In order thus to exalt the Japanese official whose official responsibility was stained with the blood of Premier Inukai, it was necessary to oust last week the ''Conqueror of Manchuria," taciturn Gen eral Shigeru Honjo (TIME, Oct. 12 et seq.). Orders are orders. Conqueror Honjo packed up on short notice and silently quit Mukden from which he has directed the Japanese occupation of Manchoukuo.

P:Pretty were a new set of postage stamps, issued for Manchoukuo last week. some bearing the portrait of Japan's Puppet Henry Pu Yi, others illustrated with Manchurian scenes. During the week Manchoukuo paper money made its first appearance. Also Japan made a bow to U. S. public opinion by appointing as an "adviser" to the Manchoukuo Government enterprising U. S. Citizen George Bronson Rea. "He is the publisher of The Far Eastern Review of Shanghai," remarked the Associated Press, "and is a stanch defender of Japan's policy in Manchuria."

P:Though no nation (not even Japan) has yet recognized the Manchoukuo Government, travelers who entered Manchoukuo last week were forced to pay $16 Mex ($5) for a Manchoukuo visa which was stamped upon their passports.

Significance. The patriotic parties of Japanese reaction and particularly the Army are now strongly in the Japanese ascendent, determined to have Manchuria by fair means or foul, resolved to make of it what they call an "ideal state." Serbia, which no longer exists as such, may have been a nation of assassins. Japan, as Prince Bismarck would have put it, is a profession--refined, subtle, not without its peculiar brand of Japanese idealism.

The Chinese Government in a cablegram to the Chinese Legation at Washington formally charged last week that the Japanese Government is proceeding with the annexation of Manchuria to the Japanese Empire.

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