That Certain Party

In Japan last week appeared what looked like another attempt at a single, totalitarian, political party. The first such attempt, formed after the dissolving of previous parties in 1940, was the Imperial Rule Assistance Association. But it included too many disputatious, old-line politicos to achieve any real unity.

The new National Service Political Council, composed of 932 rather than several thousands, seemed to stand a more practical chance. And if the announced members of the governing board had their way, lingering objectors to Japan's war (TIME, May 18) would stand no chance at all. Among the governors:

> Council President General Nobuyuki Abe, who, during his brief Premiership when World War II had first begun, declared: "The thing for Japan to do is to forge ahead with the . . . new order."

> Grim, fire-eating Admiral Nobumasa Suetsugu, perhaps the leading naval source of Japan's present policies.

> Colonel Kingoro Hashimoto, who ordered the bombing of the Panay.

> Harsh Toshio Shiratori, former political adviser to the Foreign Office, who has vocally loathed Britain and the U.S. for years.

> Sugar King Aiichiro Fujiyama, president of the Japan Chamber of Commerce, and Industry, who said in 1941: "The original promoters of the system of Gross-raumwirtschaft (regional economy) are Britain and the U.S."

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