Why Togo Resigned The suggestions put forward in Tokyo that
there is no special significance in the resignation of Togo, the Japanese Foreign Minister, are quite unconvincing. Togo is a personal admirer of the Germans, but it was he who, as Ambassador in Moscow, helped to negotiate the Russo-Japanese pact of non-aggression ; and being supposed to be against war with Russia, he had a part to play in trying to induce Moscow to demilitarise the Far Eastern coast-line. In that
he has failed, and his usefulness to the Japanese Cabinet has ceased. His resignation is consistent with the view strongly held in China that the Japanese, determined to remove the persistent danger arising from Russia's possession of Vladivostok, intend to launch an attack on the Russian forces in Siberia. Certainly they have been massing a large army in Manchuria. and China's recent successes in the field are partly attributable to the withdrawal of enemy forces for use elsewhere. General Stillwell, Commander-in-Chief of the American Forces in China, has stated in an interview that he expects an attack on Russia by the Japanese in the autumn ; their activity in building blockhouses for defensive warfare in China is mentioned• as evidence that they propose to mark time in China and move in Manchuria. If so, the opportunity would be offered to the United Nations to create " second fronts " against some exposed parts of the far-flung forces of their adventurous if not reckless enemy—perhaps in Burmah as General Stillwell hopes, or in the Pacific, or both.
