"Super-Emergency"

Nobody ever accused Japan or Germany of having a sense of humor; and only they could have staged the puppet show that amused the world last week. One by one Germany's battery of stooges--Rumania, Croatia, Slovakia, Italy and Bulgaria--announced they would recognize Japan's Wang Ching-wei and his marionette Government in Nanking. Germany did likewise. This was Germany's bid for Japan's help, or at least good will, in the Russo-German war.

Uncertain Japan still struggled to revise her foreign policy in the light of the new facts of that war. For hours an imperial conference, graced on this momentous occasion by the presence of the Emperor himself, wrestled with the problems of statecraft. The conferees emerged with their decision. But the decision was a secret.

This was a "super-emergency," said Japanese Foreign Minister Yosuke Matsuoka.

Out of it only a handful of facts made their way into the press, all interesting, none definitive.

> Notes were sent by Japan to Germany and Russia, both of them brothers in friendship by solemn covenant and pact.

> Activity of the near-million Japanese soldiers on the China front came to a dead halt (see below).

> Japan canceled ship sailings to the east coast of the U.S., requisitioned other vessels. (This would be the logical move if Japan were planning to ship a big expeditionary force somewhere.)

> Japan hinted she would extend Japanese territorial waters if necessary to prevent U.S. supplies reaching Vladivostok.

Taken all together, the facts could only mean that Japan was now preparing for dramatic action. Although the hard-headed soldiers who run Japan knew better than to bind themselves to any oversimple, irrevocable decision of action, the courses open to them were few--and all dangerous. They included: 1) a new major campaign in China, 2) a southward drive, 3) a jackal attack on the rear of the Soviet Union while Germany drains Russian strength in the west. Best bet: No. 3.

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