894.001H61/98

The Chargé in Japan ( Neville ) to the Secretary of State

No. 1518

Sir: I have the honor to inform the Department of the release by the Japanese Government on October 15, 1935, of a second statement in regard to the position of the Emperor in the Japanese political system. This statement was issued after protracted negotiations between the War and Navy Ministers and the Prime Minister and is intended to clarify further the attitude of the Government originally expressed in its release of August 3, 1935, and reported by the Embassy in its despatch No. 1429 of August 10, 1935. Developments in the controversy centering around the constitutional views of Dr. Minobe, which occasioned the release of these statements, were also reported by the Embassy in its despatches No. 1208 of March 22, 1935, No. 1233 of April 5, 1935, No. 1301 of May 14, 1935, and No. 1501 of October 3, 1935.64

The military professedly under pressure of the demands of the Ex-Service Men’s Association and apparently intent upon securing the adoption of concrete measures to re-enforce its victory in the statement of the Government of August 3, 1935, flatly rejecting Dr. Minobe’s theory,* continued to importune Premier Okada to enunciate officially a more drastic policy. Press reports stated that the Army and Navy were determined to eliminate from public office all proponents of the theory, specifically, Baron Kotokuro Ikki, President of the Privy Council and Mr. Tokujiro Kanamori, chief of the Bureau of Legislation of the Cabinet.

A meeting between the War and Navy Ministers with the Premier on October 8 was generally interpreted to intimate the possibility of the matter being re-opened. It was reported in the press that in the course of the interview an allusion by the War Minister to the matter of the resignations of Baron Ikki and Mr. Kanamori was met by [Page 873] Premier Okada’s firm refusal to petition the Emperor for the shift of Baron Ikki or the dismissal of Mr. Kanamori. Thereafter the newspapers carried daily reports of negotiations over the draft of a new statement which was drawn up by the War and Navy Ministries. Negotiations were carried on by the Chief Secretary of the Cabinet, director of the Cabinet Inquiry Bureau and director of the Cabinet’s Legislative Bureau with the War and Navy vice-ministers and resulted in their reaching a compromise which on October 15 received the sanction of the War and Navy Ministers, Premier Okada, and finally the remaining Cabinet members and was issued the same day.

The following is the Embassy’s translation of the text of the declaration as it appeared in the Tokyo press:

On a previous occasion the Government expressed its convictions in regard to the fundamental character of the nature of the State, in order to enlighten public opinion and exalt the national glory. That the subject of sovereign rights in our country is the Emperor is the fundamental principle of our national polity and the unwavering conviction of the subjects of the Empire. It is perceived that this spirit is embodied in the Imperial Edict on the Japanese Constitution and its provisions. The so-called Emperor organ theory, which, invoking examples and views current abroad, enunciates the theory that the subject of sovereign rights is not the Emperor but the State, thus making the Emperor a mere organ of the State, runs counter to the principles of our sacred national structure, violates its fundamental character, and must be sternly suppressed. It is essential, in order to exalt their true essence, that the fundamental principles of our national polity, unparalleled throughout the world, should constitute the basis of education, administration and all other national affairs. Firmly adhering to this conviction, the Government on this occasion further elucidates its attitude in order to clarify still better the conception of national polity and it will make every effort to secure the actual results implied in this conception.

While in general a mere reaffirmation of the original declaration of August 3, 1935, the statement proposes definitely to “suppress” the objectionable theory. Whether the steps involved in accomplishing that end necessarily include personnel changes remains unsettled. It is reported that there have been but slight revisions in the phraseology of the draft of the military so it is probable that the War and Navy Ministers interpret it as a victory.

The Japan Advertiser of October 17 reports that Rengo quoted War Minister Kawashima to the effect that it was the responsibility of the Government to put the declaration into execution and “to effect personnel changes among adherents of the organ theory.” There is no evidence at present, however, that Premier Okada will feel compelled to adopt such a course since direct mandate to do so is not written into the statement.

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It appears to be the consensus of press opinion that the new statement has at least temporarily settled the controversy since it received the unanimous sanction of all parties. It is improbable that the War and Navy Ministers will clamor for immediate action on the personnel question, being content for the present to simply point to the statement as a decisive victory. If this knotty issue is again brought forward, it is thought probable that it will be held over and espoused as an accompaniment to military demands in the approaching budget discussions.

Respectfully yours,

Edwin L. Neville
  1. None printed.
  2. Embassy’s despatch No. 1429 of August 10, 1935. [Footnote in the original.]
  3. Embassy’s despatch No. 1429 of August 10, 1935. [Footnote in the original.]