 The National Broadcasting Company and its affiliated stations present the Pacific story. In the mounting fury of world conflict, events in the Pacific are taking on ever greater importance. Here is the story of the Pacific and the millions of people who live around this greatest sea. The drama of the people's whose destiny is at stake in the Pacific war. Here, as another public service, is the tale of the war in the Pacific and its meaning to us and to the generations to come. The Kandung Army. The army and not the navy is the eldest son of New Japan. Kowiso said that. Kuniaki Kowiso, the premier of Japan, and he knows where of his speaks. But is in its run forces, not its sea forces. What Kuniaki Kowiso means by this is that Japan's army, particularly the Kandung Army, not only guides the basic policies of the Japanese navy, but also guides and controls the destinies of Japan itself. The Kandung Army is the elite Japanese army. It is an army 700,000 strong. It is the army responsible for the invasion and seizure of Manchuria. The attacks on Russia over the Manchurian-Siberian border. The starting of the present war with China at the Marco Polo Bridge. The thinking of the American gunboat for Nye and the promotion of the present war against the United States. Through these deeds, its leaders have become world-known. Itigaki, the crafty policymaker. Nishio, the mysterious strongman. Doihara, the law in sub-Asia. Hashimoto, the fire-eating zealot. Tojo, the bogeyman and the razor. Kowiso, disciple of Japanese world dominion. These arch-militarists along with Araki, Minami, Sugiyama, Umizo and others have brow-beaten and bent Japanese big business to their will. Have taken charge of executing Japan's plan for world dominion. And to assume such power that to question them is almost the same as to question the Emperor. Japanese civilians, one September morning in 1931, woke up and learned that Japan was at war with China. We did not even know that war was imminent. There have been riots in Manchuria since July. But it was said these were only incidents. Last month, Captain Nakamura was killed in Manchuria. You called that an incident? They said he was a spy. And yesterday, the Chinese blew up a section of truck on the south Manchurian railway. It is time that we put a stop to these incidents. The Manchurian incidents were cooked up by Colonel Kenji Doihara, long recognized as a master of intrigue, a smoothmaker of incidents. China forced war upon Japan. Because of the incident, it was necessary for Japan to intervene. That was Doihara's story. At the time, he was secret service agent of the Kandung Army, which for years had been garrisoned on the Kandung Peninsula on the mainland. Since the defeat of the Russians in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904 and 1905, the Japanese had had troops in Manchuria. And after the Kandung Army had put down the incident by taking all of Manchuria, Doihara went about establishing a puppet government. He will be served in a moment, Mr. Ying. Thank you. Cigarette? Not just now, please. Mr. Ying, is it possible that you are not satisfied with the present policy of the Chinese national government with respect to Manchuria? There are, of course, shall I say, certain changes which some of us believe would be helpful. I understand. It is such progressive men as you who should have a voice in the destiny of Manchuria. What do you mean, Colonel Doihara? We feel that we can work together for our mutual good. A man of your caliber is needed in Tongchiao. In North China, yes. Tongchiao needs an administrator. We would, of course, establish you comfortably. We feel that a man of your intelligence and background would see the advantages of such an arrangement. Perhaps we shall have an opportunity to consider this at another time. Do not hurry away, Mr. Ying. Sit down. It is now 10.35 o'clock, Mr. Ying. You may have until 11 o'clock, so accept. Behind the scenes, using cunning and bribery and threats, Doihara pulled the string so well that it became known as the Prince of Puppetry. He established Henry Puyi, last emperor of the Manchu dynasty, as Emperor Kangte of Manchuria, renamed Manchukuo. And while he was doing this work, other leaders of the Gandung army were busy with other tasks. What we must have now in Manchukuo is a regimentation of economy. Do you want big business to come in and take control? We shed our blood to conquer Manchukuo. But if we permit big business to come in, they will run Manchukuo for their benefit. We shall not permit them to do that. We of the Gandung army must develop Manchukuo as a base of operations against China, and as a base of operations against Russia. But how can we control big business once we permit it to enter before we permit it to enter? We shall determine the basis on which it shall operate. It must operate for the Gandung army, or it shall not operate at all. But these were the conditions. The Gandung army had taken Manchuria and held in its hand the development of the country. Before long, the effects of this control became apparent. Excellent highway you have here. It is our purpose to make Manchukuo as modern as your America. Yes. I've seen highways like this all the way from the Lao Deng financial after the Russian border. Roads are arteries of commerce. Or there's another company of your troops along the road. They are bandits in Manchukuo. Enough so that you need that many troops to guard the road? We never know where they will attack. We must keep the roads open at all times. You could move a good deal of equipment over a road like this? Yes, like your American roads. I noticed that highways branch off from your railways. The railways as well as highways must be protected from sudden attack. Well, who runs this great integrated system? Business interests or the military? We have worked out a very happy plan of cooperation between both. I see. Under the control of the Guangdong Army, Manchuria became not only a base of future operations against China and Russia, not only an arsenal. It likewise became the training ground for the military firebrands. And here the blueprints of conquest were worked out. Officers of the Guangdong Army bent over maps of East Asia. We cannot move from here in Manchukuo down into another China. We cannot move against China until we know what Russia will do. If you conceive of Russia as a possible ally of China, let us then first determine how far Russia will go. We must know Russia's position. It will be no great task to determine that. We shall simply create an incident on the Soviet border by sending... Yes, Sergeant? Two Japanese gunboats are trespassing in the Soviet channel of the river. Japanese gunboats? Yes, sir. Here, take my field glasses. Yes, they are Japanese gunboats and they are trespassing. Go back to your post at once. Fighting has broken out on the Amor River between Japanese and Soviet troops. After Japanese gunboats trespassed in Soviet channels of the river, Russians landed troops on two small islands in mid-stream. Japanese forces of the Guangdong Army today attacked the Russians, sank one Russian gunboat and damaged two others. Ascendant expeditionary force against Russia! Down with Russia! Well, looks like they're beating the war drums for action. Yeah, that's a Japanese weapon. What do you mean? Yes, I know. Both the war minister and the chief of staff have reported to Hirohito. The cabinet has been in conference all night. Well, they're just going through the motions of preparing for war. Do you think all of this is just double talk? Well, I've been over here in Japan a long time. I've seen this sort of thing before. And what do you think is the purpose? Well, that's pretty hard to say right now, but chances are we'll know pretty soon. Demands were made of Moscow by Tokyo. And those who understood the situation looked to Moscow for the next break. Japan had forced the hand of Russia. Now it was Russia's play. Moscow today took a conciliatory position in the Armour River flare-up. When it advised Tokyo that the Japanese demands would be met... In Tokyo, the high command had learned what it wished to know. You'll see, General Asugi, Russia will not take sides with China against Japan. Then we are ready to move. Five days later, through the manipulations of the Kandung Army leaders, the Japanese attacked the Chinese at the Makopolo Bridge outside Beiping. And the war against China was started. Meantime, another leader of the Kandung Army, the stormy petrol king Goro Hashimoto, had been training firebrands in Manchuria, the Kandung Laboratory of War. Our sublime mission is to dominate the world. This was Hashimoto, and these were his exact words. You must stick it upon yourselves to chop up the head of any individual, whether he be a public figure or a private citizen, who dares to stand in the way of your divine mission. Goodbye! Goodbye! I swear to behead any individual who seeks to atroat our mission. I swear to have no contact with foreigners or their thought. I swear to devote my life to the Japanese domination of the world. Under Hashimoto, murder became a method. The young officers he trained suspected not only foreigners and public officials and private citizens. They suspected even their own senior officers. Hashimoto burned his stamp into the souls of the young Japanese under his command. And with ruthless cruelty, he demonstrated his attitude toward foreigners. In December 1937, during the Japanese drive on Nang King, Hashimoto was in command of shore batteries along the Yangtze. There are still some foreign ships in the river, Colonel Hashimoto. Hashimoto scanned the river with field glasses. Yes, that is the American gunboat Panai down there, Major. Oh, that is the Panai, yes. And another gunboat, the Ladybird, is evacuating foreigners from the city. They are so in getting out of the way. Well, the Ladybird has already gone. But the Panai is still down there. And there are American and British cargo ships still on the river. Colonel Hashimoto, sir. Yes, Colonel, this communique has just been received from headquarters at Shanghai. Yes. This is in order to clear the river of shipping. Does that mean enemy shipping or oil shipping? The order says clear the river of shipping. Take the necessary action, Major. Use both aircraft and shore batteries. On the bridge of the United States gunboat Panai, the Americans were busy with their routine duties. Look out to bridge. Look out to bridge. Yes, look out. The Japanese planes overhead, sir. It looks like they're maneuvering directly over us. Yes, I see them. It looks as though they're diving on us, sir. Yes, they are. They missed us. It's fast and safe. Aircraft guns, machine guns, concentrate, fire. Look out to bridge. Look out to bridge. Go ahead, look out. Shore batteries firing on us, sir. Shore batteries. Heavy guns, reply to the shore batteries. Reply to the shore batteries. Abandon ship. Abandon ship. As the Panai shattered with bombs and shells settled, and the waters of the Yanksy washed over her decks, a crew that could still move fled in their small boats to the shore. They tried to conceal themselves in the marshes. Get down. Stay under the marshes. They're coming back. They're coming back to stay for, sir. Colonel Hashimoto had done what many a Japanese army man had wished to do, but had never dared to do. As a final gesture of discipline, he was transferred. But he was to be heard from again. Meanwhile, another young Colonel, Colonel Teishiro Itagaki, was rising out of the strong man of the Gandung army, General Poshizo Nishio. And he it was who saw the value of the intelligence of Itagaki to the Gandung army. It is a matter, Colonel Itagaki, of controlling the key positions in the government. Without controlling the key positions, we can never have control of national policy. That is right, Colonel. We must have the same complete control in other departments as we have through the Minister of War. The Minister of War has direct access to the Emperor. The only member of the cabinet with this privilege were the exception of the Minister of the Navy. That is invaluable. We must have more of these key positions. We must be in a position to control the cabinet or to force it to collapse. This Gandung army can do. But, General, I am no soldier. You have a command, Colonel. Use it. Because of his brilliance, the Gandung army looked more and more to Itagaki. They saw him as, potentially, one of their most valued leaders. In 1938, he was in command of a fighting unit in China. Finally, Itagaki, sir. We are caught in a trap. A trap? Yes, sir. The enemy is bringing up strong reinforcements. It was my understanding that we were on the enemy's flank and that he had no reserves in this sector. Our losses are heavy, sir. We are completely trapped. Twenty-five thousand Japanese fell in that battle and Itagaki suffered complete humiliation. He prepared to join his ancestors through Harikari. I told you I was no soldier, General Nishio. You are much to not think of. No, no, you need not try to convince me. My spirit shall be of greater value to Japan than my body. The Gandung army needs you. Arrive. Japan needs you. Twenty-five thousand Japanese soldiers entrusted to me. Dead. I can never accept a command to... Each of us serves in his own way, Colonel. We are not thinking of you as a commander of troops. But I have given proof that I am of no value. You are of great value in your field. We have work for you to do. Rave the fighting to us. Well, Nishio went back to Tokyo and Itagaki succeeded him as chief of staff of the Gandung army. With his staff, Itagaki set up the government of Manchuria, set up its economy. Others carried out his plans. Such leaders as Doihara and Tojo. Tojo commanded the Gandung army's military police, including its espionage. Yes, General Itagaki. I have agents in every part of Manjoko. Dependable agents? The best. They are stationed everywhere, from the hotel rooms on day one to the Soviet frontiers. And what is the attitude of our officers these days, Colonel Tojo? No, this content has a chance to get started. And the foreigners? Have you found suspects among them? Only one. A Britisher. They care of him. Good day, Colonel. In Manchuria, Itagaki's work was outstanding. And he also was called back to Tokyo for a promotion to minister of war. For the Gandung leaders were rising to power in the Japanese government. Congratulations, General Itagaki. So spoke the Gandung leaders. But the liberal leaders regarded Itagaki's promotion with misgivings. It is a step backward. General Nishio put him in there. There are many others who should have been considered first. Yes, officers with a seniority of service and age. There are other officers who do not permit their armies to be trapped and suffer the loss of 25,000 kills. We can look for increasing the pressure from the Gandung army and the government from now on. They were right. Itagaki sent to Manchuria for Tojo. Named him Vice Minister of War. Requested him to carry on in Japan the same sort of policing and espionage that he had directed so well in Manchuria. Today, Tojo became the watchdog at home while Itagaki and Nishio proceeded with plans for their Holy War on Russia. Our first objective, Nishio, must be to end the China incident. Itagaki saw the wisdom of ending the war in China before taking any definite steps toward Russia. Meantime, we must move for a better understanding with Rome and Bahrain. Russia's strength and interest must be divided. Yes. And that will also have the effect of forcing the democracies to stop helping China. Rome and Bahrain have signed the anti-comintern pact. This could be the instrument to use against Russia? Yes, it could, Itagaki. Itagaki's statesmanship was beginning to unfold. One day, the world learned that Japan had signed the anti-comintern pact against Russia. This, in effect, made Japan a member of the Rome-Berlin Axis. Japan rejoiced, that is, those who saw eye to eye with the Gandung leaders. Russia was now hemmed in on both east and west. In effect, Itagaki, we have now cleared the way for a decisive blow against China. Then we shall move against Russia. But other things were in the wind. Hitler was getting ready to attack Poland. He needed to be sure that Russia would not go in on Poland's side. He sent Joachim von Ribbentrop to the Kremlin at Moscow. Hello. Hello, give me the desk. Yeah. Hello? Yeah, hello, this is Manley. Here's a bulletin for you. File it to New York right away. Russia's just signed a non-aggression pact with Germany. What? Soviet, Russian, Nazi, Germany? Well, it makes Japan look like a sucker. Especially a guy named Itagaki. The news fell like a sledgehammer blow on Itagaki, but with him still was Nishio. The fort is not yours, Itagaki. The blame rests on Premier Hiranuma. Hiranuma was to be the scapegoat. He was the premier. Recently, the emperor announced the resignation of Hiranuma. And presently, there was other news. Nobayuki Abe has been appointed the new Premier of Japan. Nobayuki Abe? Who's he? He is a figurehead of the Kandung Army. How do you liberal Japanese feel about that? Oh, that is only part of it. The Kandung Army has put its men in all key posts. Not only in the government, but also in the responsible positions on the mainland of Asia. Well, could I be permitted to assume that the Kandung Army plans to control the entire government and its policy? It is nearly an accomplished fact. The control of the army is nearly completely in the hands of one man. Nishio. The Kandung Army was moving toward control of the entire Japanese army. Control of the navy, control of the government. While Nishio and Itagaki pulled the strings of government and army politics, Tojo kept a weather eye out for intrigue. One day, his dragnet came up with a bigger catch than he'd ever bargained for. They wanted to murder Admiral Yonai. Admiral Yonai, the premier. They were ready to move when we took them. They are now in jail. All of them? All except Arira. Who is he? Hashimoto. Hashimoto? Word of the conspiracy buzzed through the inner circles in Tokyo. Yonai, the premier, learned about it. Learned that Hashimoto, whom he knew well, was the arch conspirator. Yonai rested on easily for days. Hashimoto walked about scot-free. Nine days later, the resignation of Yonai was announced. Hashimoto's position became stronger, more secure than ever before. Prince Kanoya was named as premier. The world capitals watched closely to see what would be done about Hashimoto. Therefore, by direction, Gengoro Hashimoto is named head of the committee to draft the new political and economic structure of Greater Japan. Gengoro Hashimoto will direct the planning of this committee. That was Prince Kanoya. Hashimoto had shown that it's not always necessary to murder. The fear of murder is sometimes a stronger weapon as assassination itself. Through the structure which Hashimoto and his committee set up to be known as the Imperial Rule Assistance Association, Japan moved down the road toward totalitarianism. You see, it has replaced all political parties. Well, that's practically what happened in Germany and Italy. Almost the same. Then what of representative government? The government is in the hands of the militaries and we liberals must go underground. Nishio and Itagaki worked hand in glove. They controlled the army. They controlled the government. The pace of events was accelerated and in 1941 Kanoya's cabinet fell. We must see that a premier is appointed whom we can't trust without the question of doubt. So spoke Nishio and Itagaki knew whom he meant. It must be a man strong enough to control the cabinet for us. That can only be Tojo. The Emperor went through the motions of selecting a premier. All the living former premiers and many of the eldest statesmen were called for a conference at the palace. Behind all this was the smooth strategy of Nishio and Itagaki. In less than four hours, newspaper men and observers were summoned for an important announcement. War Minister, Lieutenant-General Adette Tojo has been appointed the new premier of the Imperial Japanese government. Congratulations, General Dojo. Do you have any statements you'd like to make to the American public? I dislike talking. I will make my policies clear by enforcing them. Dojo crapped the whip over the cabinet for his bosses. Nishio and Itagaki. Behind them was the Gontung Army. The army that had been spawned in Manchuria. That had risen to control the destinies of the nation. Within a matter of months, the names of these men were to be known around the world. For during these fateful months, the events leading to and following Pearl Harbor were being perfected. Dojo and Nishio and Itagaki wrote their names into American history on December 7, 1941. As premier and chief of staff, Dojo directed the policies of aggression of the Gontung Army. Like a poisonous fluid, the Japanese aggressors spread out over the map of East Asia and the Pacific. Wow, the Wake Islands, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Burma, Malaya, Singapore, the Andaman Islands. Sumatra, Java, Borneo, the islands of Micronesia and Melanesia. When the aggression was stopped and the Japanese suffered defeats at Guadalcanal, the Marshals, the Guilders, the Carolans, the Marianas, the shadow of defeat fell across Dojo. General Tojo has been relieved of his position as chief of staff. The announcement came like a thunderbolt. However, this change will in no way affect General Tojo's post as premier. Being relieved of the responsibility of being chief of staff, General Tojo will have more time to devote to his duties as premier in order to guide Japan to glorious victory. Two days after Tojo was relieved as chief of staff, American listening posts heard a Tokyo radio announcement. General Hadiki Tojo has resigned as premier. The Emperor has asked General Kuniaki Koiso to form a new cabinet. And General Koiso is now in the process of selecting his ministers. General Koiso is a man of poor experience. The details of Koiso's experience were well known to men familiar with the Japanese scene. Koiso? Yeah, he's been the governor of Korea for some time. Koiso, he's got an academic military background. He was once chief secretary of the Supreme War Council and he was once vice minister of war. Koiso? I knew him well. He was a member of the staff of the Kandong Army and Manchuria in 1932. Something of what might be expected of Koiso was revealed in his first public statement after becoming premier. Japan will further strengthen her ties with Germany. And Japan will befriend neutral countries in order that they may offer positive cooperation to the Japanese people. Japan offers sincere friendship to Russia. It will be our privilege to... Koiso made a bid for better relations for the countries that would have most to do with the successful prosecution of her war. This was the analysis of Koiso's position. But for those who saw in the removal of Tojo, a move taught a more liberal Japanese policy, there was the realistic view of the men still around and back of Koiso. Koiso's cabinet is as much under the control of the Kandong Army clique as Tojo's cabinet. The key positions are still held by Kandong Army men. Three of Tojo's ministers are still in Koiso's cabinet. And in addition, there's the gray fox of the Kandong Army. The militarist has been identified with every important step and they rise to power of the Kandong Army. General Jen Sugiyama. These are the men who control Japan. You have been listening to the Pacific story presented by the National Broadcasting Company and its affiliated independent stations as a public service to clarify events in the Pacific and to make understandable the crosscurrents of life in the Pacific Basin. For a reprint of this Pacific story program, send 10 cents in stamps or corn to the University of California Press, Berkeley, California. The story is written and directed by Arnold Marquess. The original musical score was composed and conducted by Thomas Paluso. Your narrator, Gain Whitman. This program came to you from Hollywood. This is the National Broadcasting Company.