Shadow over Tokyo unity

Press, 2 December 1978, Page 7

Shadow over Tokyo unity

i NZPA-Reuter Tokyo Mr Masayoshi Ohira has been acclaimed president of Japan’s ruling Liberal Demo-! cratic Party, assuring him of becoming Prime Minister fori the next two years, and he; immediately appealed for I party unity. I A special congress of the; [L.D.P.’s members of Parlia-l 'ment picked him unopposed! [as party leader because the; I incumbent Prime Minister.! [Mr Takeo Fukuda, defeated; jin a party primary poll last! I Monday, withdrew from the!' [contest. Mr Ohira told the con-! 1 (gresst “At present the big-! jgest problem for the party): I is to consolidate its harmo-[ jny and unity. If there hash [been discord, a sense of in-', [compatability and prejudices r within the party, these musth

be done away with.” Some members of the party. especially those among Mr Fukuda's followers, believe Mr Ohira won ! the primary because of ;shady electoral practices. The Agriculture Minister ;(Mr Ichiro Nakagawa) a! [member of the Fukuda fac-. [tion, boycotted the congress! [after telling reporters: “It is ! a polluted party convention.” He said he was displeased [at the way Mr Ohira was I elected, adding: "I would; [like to reject the cabinet and [the party.” I He shook hands with Mr’ (Fukuda, who called on the; ; party to give its full support [to Mr Ohira. But he indicated that he) [was not altogether happy; [with the primary poll.