The building up of the Kwantung Army into a force powerful enough to protect every inch of Manchoukuo against any foe is generally regarded among the Japanese here of urgent necessity, For one thing, the public Is Ill at ease so long as the Soviet Far Eastern Army continues to display a contentious attitude along Manchoukuo's far-flung eastern, northern and western frontiers.
Col. Banzai, staff officer, is alleged to have said that although' tual for the augmentation of the Kwantung Army will not be submitted to the present session of the Diet the Hirota Cabinet will sooner or later have 10 act on them, The interpretation that followed Is that appropriations necessary for the increase of Japanese troops in Manchoukuo will probably be contained in the Budget for 1997-38, A further surmise is that these appropriations will form port of a six-year defence programme Under consideration by the Central Army in Tokyo, Although there has been no confirmation, It is rumoured that the Central Army proposes such a programme at an outlay of ¥.2,000, 000,000, Whether the plan countenances making the Kwantung Army into a regular standing force is not known, 'The Central Army's preparedness to support strengthening of the 'Kwantung Army is believed here to have been "clearly indicated" by General Count' Hisaichi Terauchi, Japanese Wor Minister, before the Diet, particularly the recitation that (GQ) the Soviet attitude of Tite is de. finitely. aggressive,...2). Soviet, continues along the [mobilization of troops and armaments Soviet- 10. border, (3) "the 'USSR. is scheming strategically to envelop Manchoukuo, 'The success of" the' proposed colonization project and greater Japanese capital investment in Manchoukuo are believed predicated on the formidability of the Kiantung Army, Hence, the anxiety of the people here to know more definitely how far the authorities are willing to guarantee the safety of Manchoukuo,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.