Office of the Historian

894.00/606: Telegram

The Ambassador in Japan (Grew) to the Secretary of State

Tokyo, March 7, 1936—9 p.m.
[Received March 7—2:33 p.m.]

63. Following is part summary of a statement made today to the Military Attaché by an officer of the General Staff. Insisted that he came as a personal friend and not officially but there is no doubt that he was directed to explain the situation to Lieutenant Colonel Crane.41

1.
The incident of February 26 was planned and executed by officers forming the ignorant radical fringe of the nationalistic group to which all officers belong. Non-commissioned officers and men knew nothing of the officers’ real purpose as they were told they were to take part in a night maneuver.
2.
The total number of extreme radicals among officers is not known but is believed to be small. Strenuous efforts are being made throughout the country by the police and military police to locate and round up “direct actionists” among civilians and officers. The same small group of radicals was responsible for the May 15th and all subsequent incidents.
3.
Our informant does not believe that any rebel officers who escaped are still at large. Three officers committed suicide. More suicides are expected later when opportunity is afforded. At present while under investigation by the military police they are unable to harm themselves.
4.
The retirement of the senior army members of the Supreme Military Council (including Araki and Masaki) is due to their assumption of responsibility for the incident. General Minami, the senior general in the army, will also retire on his return from Manchuria.
5.
General Terauchi’s selection as the next Minister of War and General Ueda’s designation as Minami’s successor were dictated by their seniority, all men senior to them having retired.
6.
The army approves of Hirota as Premier and of his foreign policy but dislikes the type of “status quo” Cabinet indicated by his first selection. In particular the army wants a non-political man as Home Minister. The army has no ambition to form a strictly military [Page 757] Cabinet, realizing that it is not qualified for the task. It insists on a progressive, vigorous Cabinet.
7.
The army’s position is expressed clearly in General Terauchi’s statement yesterday: “the Government must have determination and courage to effect radical reforms, to do away with traditional evils, to carry out a strong and positive policy in providing adequate national defense, et cetera. It must not be compromising, leaning toward the status quo and tinged with liberalism. There must be a renovation of national administration through positive policies. Anything compromising or reactionary would not only fail to meet the situation but would aggravate it, creating an everlasting source of evil.” Repeated to Peiping.
Grew
  1. Lt. Col. William C. Crane, Military Attaché in Japan.↩