Kato, Blood &

Admiral Kanji Kato, tactiturn chief of the Naval Staff, found ways more potent han words last week to inform the Nation that he disapproves the London Naval Treaty.

Asked by the America-Japan Society to attend a farewell dinner for returning acting U. S. Ambassador William R. Castle Jr., the chief of staff refused.

Although forced to receive a courtesy call from Naval Minister Takeshi Takarabe, who got home from the conference only last week, it was noted that the call lasted the bare five minutes etiquette demanded.

When the newly arrived minister announced that he would give a dinner to the departing U. S. Ambassador and asked Admiral Kato to attend, he again refused.

In a most definite gesture, he resigned his post.

Moreover it has long been known that Admiral Kato's favorite protege on the naval staff of which he is chief was Lieu-enant-Commander Yeiji Kusakari, scion of an old Samurai clan of deathless bravery, a highstrung man of 40, husband of a devoted wife, father of four. This officer last week engaged a berth at Kobe on the night express for Tokyo. Along toward dawn the conductor heard groans from his compartment, knocked diffidently, received no answer, debated for some time before he dared to unlock a staff officer's door.

The berth was a dark sodden pool of blood, upon it in terrible agony writhed Lieutenant-Commander Yeiji Kusakari. He had chosen the most painful and for a Samurai the most noble death: harakiri. With a short dagger which had belonged in medieval times to one of his ancestors he had slashed his abdomen through and through.

The conductor could do no more than call an ambulance when the train reached Tokyo. Admiral Kato's brave protege died in hospital. Practically the entire Japanese press assumed that his suicide was a protest against the Treaty, though he left behind no explanation.

As usual Prime Minister Yuko ("Shishi," "The Lion'') Hamaguchi displayed iron nerve, inflexible purpose. It was clear to him, as it certainly is clear to all Occidental experts, that Japan obtains great advantages from the Treaty, although naturally not getting all she asked in every category. Lumping her gains together it appears that while she set out to get 70% of the U. S. naval strength in battleships, cruisers, destroyers and submarines, she actually got 71.3%. Therefore the lion-hearted Prime Minister ignored all protests, bloody or otherwise, prepared to push ratification of the Treaty.

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