398	ONE  WORLD :   two
to the furtherance of policies which might be expected to bring about
armed conflict with the United States.
It is important to note that General Tojo, as distinguished from
previous Japanese military Prime Ministers, is not a retired officer
but is a full general in the active service. Thus the Japanese Army
for the first time in recent years has openly assumed responsibility
for the policies and conduct of government in Japan, which it had
previously steadfastly declined to accept. It would be logical, there-
fore, to expect that General Tojo, in retaining his active rank in the
Army, will as a result be in a position to exercise a larger degree of
control over Army extremist groups.
I am informed by a member of my staff who was acquainted in
Moscow with Mr. Togo, the new Foreign Minister, and who has on
several occasions in recent months met Mr. Togo's wife and daughter
here in Tokyo, that the new Foreign Minister while Ambassador to
Moscow was held in high regard by the Soviet Government as the
most acceptable representative from Japan who had been sent to
Moscow in recent years. It was reliably reported that the Soviet
Government was frankly disappointed over his recall in the autumn
of 1940 in view of Mr. Togo's successful conduct of the conversations
for the conclusion of a political treaty which had been proceeding
in Moscow between Japan and the Soviet Union, and the Soviet
Government extended to him unusual courtesies on the occasion of
his departure from Moscow. Mr. Togo, it will also be remem-
bered, was among those Japanese diplomats removed from active
office by Matsuoka last year for the reason, it is believed, that
he was not in favour of the extreme foreign policy pursued by
Matsuoka.
The official Japanese agency Domei has just released a statement
to the effect that the Tojo Government will inaugurate no new
policies since the Government of Prince Konoye has already laid
down the basic national policy of Japan.
NOTE ON VICE-MINISTER NISHI
October 22, 1941
The press announced to-day the appointment as Vice-Minister
for Foreign Affairs of Haruhiko Nishi, who for several years has
specialized in Soviet-Japanese relations, having been twice assigned
to Moscow. He was there with Togo, who no doubt selected him
owing to their personal relations, so we now have in the two key
positions in the Foreign Office men who have had first-hand experience
in Soviet affairs and are regarded as friendly to the Soviet Union.
Nishi, whom I know and like, is regarded as an honest and trust-
worthy man with no great intellectual attainments or outstanding
ability. He succeeds Amau.