Ishihara addressed the group in a friendly manner, explaining the aims of the central authorities and expressing his own hopes that the Kwantung Army would show prudence.
This prompted Lieutenant Colonel Muto, the staff officer in charge of operation in Inner Mongolia, to ask with a smile, Are you merely voicing the opinions of your superiors or do you yourself truly believe what you are saying?
That’s enough!
Ishihara retorted, his voice suddenly stern.
I’m opposed to any operations whatsoever in Inner Mongolia.
Just when the building of Manchukuo is finally under way, you want to risk stirring up trouble with Russia and China with these clumsy plots.
Doesn’t common sense tell you what the results will be!
You amaze me, Muto said, the smile still on his lips.
At the time when you were so active in the Manchurian Incident, Imamura and I were working at General Staff Headquarters.
It was your actions then that opened our eyes; we admired you.
We are only putting into practice in Inner Mongolia what we learned from you.
The staff officers laughed in unison when Muto finished, as if to voice approval of what he had said.
Ishihara, shocked into silence, turned to Itagaki, but his old friend and ally made no move to speak.
A sudden chill fell over the meeting. Assistant Chief of Staff Imamura stepped in to act as mediator.
What do you say sir-he said, addressing Chief of staff Itagaki, it’s time to eat, so why don’t we discuss this further tomorrow, when there’s more time…Yes, Itagaki agreed, greatly relieved, let’s move to the dining room and relax.
The following day Ishihara reiterated the aims of the central command to the commander, Itagaki, and Imamura, but he was fully aware they were not listening in earnest to what he had to say. It was Ishihara himself, together with Itagaki, who had created these headstrong tendencies in the Kwantung Army.
Now he was partaking of the bitter fruit of a tradition he had helped create. It was like preaching to a blank wall. For the first time in his life, Ishihara tasted defeat.
When Imamura saw him off at the airfield, it seemed to him Ishihara was a different man from when he arrived, that a shadow of forlornness had fallen upon him.
Japan: The Years of Trial, 1919-52
ISBN-10: 087011610X
ISBN-13: 978-0870116100
村上兵衛
「四字熟語・成句辞典」
竹田晃著
講談社学術文庫
pp．184-185より抜粋
狡兎良狗(こうと りょうく)
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