PACIFIC TRADE BLOC

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29102, 14 January 1960, Page 4

PACIFIC TRADE BLOC

Proposal By Japan

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) TOKYO, January 12.

Japan is expected to submit to the United States a plan to form a Pacific economic union to cope with the economic drives of the Western European trade blocs and Communist nations, when the Japanese Prime Minister (Mr Nobusuke Kishi) goes to Washington, according to British United Press.

The Japanese delegation, led by Mr Kishi, will sign a new Japan-United States security treaty in Washington on January 19. Reports in Tokyo say the Pacific economic union idea proposes the participation of Japan, the United States, Canada and Australia and has the backing of a majority of Japanese financial and business circles.

Japanese security officials were alerted today to possible attempts to injure or assassinate Mr Kishi, and prevent him from travelling to Washington, United Press International reported from Tokyo. As left-wing student organisations made plans to try to block Mr Kishi’s departure for the United States next Saturday, officials received reports that a bomb might be thrown at the pro-West-ern Prime Minister, the agency said.

Police authorities scheduled a special meeting for Tuesday to map plans for handling any outbursts.

The Tokyo University branch of the National Federation of Student Self-Government Associations said it would mobilise 2000 students to detain Mr Kishi forcibly. The students vowed to set up roadblocks on the way to Haneda airport and officials feared they might stage a sitdown strike on the airfield runways.

Studet opposition to the revised security pact which Mr Kishi will sign has steadily increased since the anti-American riots on November 27, to which some 500 persons were injured. The security pact allows American troops and bases in Japan.