These rapid steps toward a “wartime economy” met with bitter opposition
from the parties and even more from the public at large. A wide breach
opened up between the Hayashi Cabinet and the people. When Hayashi
dissolved the Diet, he was overwhelmingly defeated in the general
election of April 1937. Out of 466 members in the Diet’s lower house,
the government elected less than 50 supporters. It tried to stay in
office, but finally, on May 31, had to resign.
The popular disapproval of the military-fascist program was shown quite
unmistakably in this election--even more unmistakably than in the
earlier election of February 1936. At that time, the extremists had
defeated the will of the people by the “2-26” uprising. This time they
used new methods.
Under the Konoye Cabinet, national unity was restored--at least to all
outward appearances. Party members were included in the Cabinet, and
Prince Konoye was made the symbol of unity. But the party men chosen
for Cabinet posts were in sympathy with the military-fascist program,
and in any case held only minor offices. The chief Ministries were
cornered by the army leaders and by bureaucrats who supported them.
But merely setting up a new Cabinet was not enough to quell the
widespread suspicion of the army’s aims. It was necessary to quiet
opposition voices, reestablish the army’s prestige and really get
somewhere with the “controlled economy” plans.
How could all this be done? Two months after the Konoye Cabinet entered
office, Japan was at war with China.