Japan's grave-faced Emperor Hirohito last week wrapped himself in a silken robe embroidered with the sacred Paulownia blossom and stepped into the innermost sanctuary of the Imperial Palace to worship his mythological ancestress, the Sun Goddess, celebrating the ascension to the throne 2,601 years ago of his lineal ancestor, the great Emperor Jimmu. Aside from the fact, of no great importance, that there is no historical evidence that Jimmu ever existed, there was a striking difference between the two ceremonies 2.601 years apart: whereas Jimmu had given thanks to the Sun Goddess after his conquest of Central Japan, Hirohito prayed before Japan's conquest of Southeastern Asia, which Japan and her enemies alike agree must be this year or never.
The Way of the Gods. While Premier Prince Fumimaro Konoye, his Cabinet and other privileged persons followed the Son of Heaven into the sanctuary of his ancestral goddess, thousands of lesser Japanese made their way to Shinto shrines throughout Japan. Outside the gates of the shrine to the war dead in Tokyo, women offered white girdles to the worshippers. These girdles, stitched with red, make soldiers who wear them invulnerable. Before entering the gates each worshipper purified himself by washing out his mouth in a common pool. Before leaving, each worshipper tossed coins before the shrine. In the lesser shrines, as in the Imperial Sanctuary, the ceremonies proclaimed Japan's faith in what the Japanese call "the way of the gods": patriotism, unity and belief in the imperial divine ancestry. Proclaimed Home Minister Baron Kiichiro Hiranuma as the great day ended: "Japan has a sacred throne. . . . Japan's imperial rule is therefore an extension of Heaven."
The 2,601st anniversary of the Empire's founding was also the day the Cabinet chose to announce Year 2601's budget: $1,128,256,000 for war, $1,894,794,000 for peace; total, $3,023,050,000, of which $1,778,375,200 must be borrowed. Prince Konoye retired to his house with a cold the next day.
Prince Konoye is the world's most celebrated political hypochondriac; he frequently takes to his bed when things get tough. Lart week that part of the world which lies in the path of Japan's ambition was sure Japan was on the brink of war.
War's New Stage. At almost the same moment The Netherlands East Indies and Australia got their wind up. From Batavia orders went out for Dutch ships to put into the nearest friendly port; two of them rushed to Manila and dropped anchor. In Australia Acting Prime Minister Arthur William Fadden called a meeting of the Advisory War Council and then issued a warning to the country: "The war has moved into a new stage of the utmost gravity."
Australia's No. 2 man is not one who scares easily. He looks and sounds a little like Wendell Willkie. Since 1936 he has risen to, and ably handled, the Treasury portfolio. When Prime Minister Robert Gordon Menzies decided to visit Australian forces in Egypt and Palestine last month Fadden was agreed on as a man both major parties could trust.