JAPANESE DEBACLE.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 114, 15 May 1924, Page 5

JAPANESE DEBACLE.

OLD ORDER IS CHANGED.

SHARP GOVERNMENT DEFEAT.

TOKYO, May 14.

The final election returns are now to hand with the exception ox two seats in Northern Kokaido, where the polling was postponed for a week owing to a hurricane. They show that the combined opposition to the Government, namely, the Kenseikai, Seyukai, and Kakushin parties, have secured 270 seats. The Government party (Seiyohonto) has 120 seats. The following are the official figures:— Kenseikai 146 Seiyohonto (Govt.) 120 Seyukai -.-. 101 Independents C 3 Kakushin 29 Although the electorates have thus manifested their disapproval of the Government, principally on the issues of the American exclusion law and universal suffrage, the exact fate of Viscount Kiyoura, the Prime. Minister, and his Cabinet, will not be definitely known for about a month. The Cabinet, after continuous meetings, has decided to postpone action until after the State celebrations, early in June, of the Prince Regent, Hirohito's wedding. This took place on January 26, but the public celebrations were postponed on account of the mourning for the victims of the earthquake. It is understood that despite the hopes M. Mizuno, Minister for Home Affaire, that Viscount Kiyoura would command the necessary majority to carry on the Government, the Prime Minister is determined to resign shortly after the opening of the Diet. An extraordinary session is to be held on June 25.

Another statement of the position is that the Government's decision not to determine its attitude in the face of its defeat until after the Prince Regent's wedding celebrations, is due to its belief that a political change is not desired by the nation during the festivities. The Mizuno faction in the Cabinet is of the opinion that sufficient Independents and" others could be won over to make a majority. They insisted that this should be tried before the final step 13 taken, but it is understood that the Prime Minister and other members of the Cabinet have little faith in M. Mizuno's plan. They are determined to resign if, after the wedding celebrations, the Opposition still controls a majority.— (A. and N.Z.—Reuter.)