The Men around the Emperor

Premier Kantaro Suzuki held another emergency meeting with his Cabinet, conferred with Japan's elder statesmen, ex-Premiers Baron Kiichiro Hiranuma, Admiral Keisuke Okada, Prince Fumimaro Konoye, Koki Hirota, Generals Hideki Tojo and Kuniaki Koiso. He called on the Emperor Hirohito, bowed reverentially, and reported, according to Radio Tokyo, on a "general jurisdictional matter."

The Premier and his ministers now held only shadow authority. And the Emperor seemed to be completely in the hands of the war lords. For the war lords hold the three key posts at court: Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal (Marquis Kido, military puppet); Grand Chamberlain to the Emperor (Admiral Hisanori Fujita); and Imperial Household Minister (former Finance Minister Ishiwata, long a military stooge). They decide who is to have access to the Emperor, what he shall do, what documents he shall approve by affixing his seal.

There is no precedent in modern Japanese history for direct personal rule by the Emperor. Parliament empowered Hirohito to rule with dictatorial powers last month. What drove Japanese leaders to take this step is not certain. It may be that there is agitation in Japan--unrest and longing for peace. To unite the people for a resistance at home, it may have been necessary to invoke the Emperor's personal prestige.

But this was a dangerous step for Japanese leaders to take, for it compromised the throne. Since the people have been told that the Emperor is ruling them personally, it would be difficult for Hirohito not to assume responsibility for defeat. Apparently the war lords were ready to drag the Emperor down with them. Hirohito would be finished, and so would the whole Imperial institution. The Japanese war lords could scarcely have reached this decision except from desperation.

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