54 THE ASSASSIN'S SHADOW LIES ACROSS JAPAN

the idea that the degree of one's hospitality is measured by the volume
of electric light turned on the scene. It hurts the eyes, irritates the
senses, and robs the women of whatever beauty they possess. As usual
I had terribly uphill work in dinner talk because the Japanese women,
with few exceptions, won't help to keep the ball of conversation
rolling ; it dies after each remark, and even when they make an
observation it is whispered and I have to get my ear down into their
plates to hear ; besides, the strain of trying to hear is very bad for the
digestion. I always feel like saying to those who won't speak up :
66 If anything has to be strained, it's much easier to strain the voice
than the ear "—but I never do say it. As for dinner conversation,
Alice gets the best of it because she sits between men and I between
women. Anyway, it was a pleasure to dine with nice old Prince
Tokugawa and to remember that his family once ruled Japan.

THE OTHER JAPAN SPEAKS

October 18, 1932

In the afternoon-----came to see me by appointment. He said

he wished merely to thank me for our dinner, but that is generally
done by merely leaving cards, and it was obvious that he wanted to
talk. He said a good deal to the effect that the moderate element
in Japan is stronger and more widespread than is generally known,
because their views do not get into the press or public speeches ;
the people who do the most talking and writing in the newspapers
are not always the ones who carry most weight, and that the moderate
thinkers will be heard from in due course.

This is the refrain that they are all trying to convey to me, but
naturally I want some material evidence and want to know just how
this alleged moderate movement is going to register in practical
policy if it does eventually make itself felt, Now that Japan has
formally recognized Manchukuo it is not evident how any Japanese
Government could disavow that step or acknowledge even nominal
Chinese sovereignty over Manchuria, which seems to be the crux of

the whole problem. For my part I talked to ----- very frankly

and told him of the exact position of the American Government in
the issue, I am told that he is going to be a strong force here and
am very glad because he is anything but a chauvinistic fire-eater.

Dinner at the 'Uchidas', including Mrs. Woodrow Wilson, the
Debuchis, Count Makino, Count Kabayama, Prince Tokugawa, the
Aritas, the Mcllroys, and so on. Both before and after dinner I
had long talks with Count Makino, who spoke very much along the
lines of-----'s talks this afternoon, emphasizing the existing " under-
current " of moderate thought, and then we talked of the results of

the Versailles Peace Treaty. Later I sat down with-----, who spoke

along precisely the same jJlines as Makino. They are all trying to
get tiiis idea across to me.

The only possible indications I can yet see which might point tq