RUSHING BILLS THROUGH

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 124, 19 February 1941, Page 8

RUSHING BILLS THROUGH

Japanese Diet LEGISLATION FOR AN EMERGENCY

(Received February 19. 1,2(J a.m.)

I’OKIO, February .18.

The Government, while disclaiming danger in the immediate future, is rushing through legislation which will place the nation in readiness for any emergency. The Diet is passing unanimously and without debale lar-reaching Bills. The Bill for revision of (he National Mobilization Law is now in the committee stage. It gives the .Executive full rights to requisition goods and land for control of housing, finance, commerce, wages, profits, imports and exports.

The Diet is expected to pass the National Security Bill, tightening up the espionage laws, A significant Bill which it is expected will be passed unanimously empowers the Admiralty to take over the whole of the mercantile marine and obliges shipowners to train crews for convoy work. The Diet, lias reduced debate to a minimum and is expected to conclude the session six weeks before the normal date. Effects of U.S. Aid Scheme. The Foreign Minister. Mr. Matsuoka, responding to questions in the Lower House, said that the passage of the United States Lease and Lend Bill would have no serious effects on Japan. He also doubted whether it would have an important bearing on the German operations against England, because on a "eommonsense viewpoint” at least six months would lie required before effective results could be obtained. However, lie denied knowledge of when the Germans would attempt a landing in Britain. The Foreign Office announced tliat Mr. Kaname Wakasugi, a former Consul-General, has been promoted Minister and assigned to Washington. He is at present adviser to Admiral Nomura, Ambassador to Washington. Tire former .Minister to Latvia, Mr. .Shin Sakuma, is appointed Minister at Large and assigned to Germany. It is announced that the RussianJapanese trade negotiations, which hart been suspended since last April were resumed in Moscow today.