‘Japanese-American Policy Supported’

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31727, 10 July 1968, Page 13

‘Japanese-American Policy Supported’

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter —Copyright) TOKYO, July 9. The Japanese Prime Minister (Mr Eisaku Sato) said today that his party’s victory in the Upper House ejection showed that the Japanese people supported, in principle, the Government’s policy of maintaining security arrangements with the United States.

Unarmed neutrality, as advocated by the Opposition (the proChina Japan Socialist Party) was opposed by the people, Mr Sato said in a television press conference.

Mr Sato’s Liberal Democratic Party won 69 of the 126 seats at stake in the elec-

tion to maintain a comfortable majority, with 137 seats in the 250-seat Upper House. The Socialists’ pre-election strength of 73 was reduced to 64.

Mr Sato said he saw no need at present to dissolve the Lower House. The Socialists have demanded its dissolution before the JapanUnited States Security Treaty comes up for review in June, 1970.

Asked if he would seek reelection at the party’s forthcoming presidential election, Mr Sato said it was too early to make any statement: but it is generally believed that his party's victory virtually as-

sures his re-election to the presidency for the third time. The 67-year-old Prime Minister has been in office since 1964. As a result of the election, the L.D.P. now holds 137 seats, compared with a preelection force of 139; the J.S.P., 65, compared with 73; the Komei-To (Clean Government Party, political arm of the Buddhist organisation, Sokagakkai), 24, compared with 24; the minor opposition Democratic Socialist Party, 10, compared with 6: the Japan Communist Party, 7, compared with 4; and the Independents, 7, compared with 6.