JAPAN: 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);...

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