JAPANESE ARMY MUTINY

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21775, 6 May 1936, Page 11

JAPANESE ARMY MUTINY

PUBLIC CENSURE BY EMPEROR SPECIAL SESSION OF PARLIAMENT

LONDON, May 4

The Tokyo correspondent of "The Times" says: "Driving through the streets, which were empty, except for guards, the Emperor Hirohito opened the special session of Parliament which the country has been awaiting with anxious interest. "The Speech from the Throne departed from custom, referring to the military mutiny of February. The Emperor said he regretted the incident and he added: 'We expect our faithful subjects, the Government and people, civil and military, to unite to advance the nation's well-being.' "The Sovereign's unprecedented public censure of the army officers made a deep impression, and necessitated the reconsideration of the drafts of the loyal addresses which the parliamentary committees had prepared. "Although the session will discuss the largest peace-time budget in Japan's history, chief interest lies in the manner in which the army intends to treat the February murders. In the meantime, the continuance of martial law Avhile Parliament is sitting, is condemned. Mr Adachi, the former Home Minister, will demand its withdrawal, which is improbable, as martial law was used to facilitate the secret examination of those responsible for the February mutiny and their accomplices."

CONSTRUCTION OF GIANT BATTLESHIP

OFFICIAL DENIAL FROM TOKYO TOKYO, May 4. The Government spokesman denies that the construction of a 55,000-ton battleship is contemplated, stating that Japanese shipyards are not equipped for such a ship.