EARLY ELECTIONS

Dominion, Volume 38, Issue 284, 30 August 1945, Page 7

EARLY ELECTIONS

Japanese Government Intention (Received August 29, 7 p.m.) NEW YORK, August 28. ‘ Tokio radio states that the Japanese Government plans to hold a general election in the near future on the basis of new ideas and thoughts, including freedom of speech and the Press. The Diet is to meet on .Saturday,.when the Premier will call for a dissolution. Tokio radio said that 36 members of Japanese ultra-patriotic organizations committed hara-kiri, 10 near the.Atagoyama shrine, 12 before the Imperial Palace, and 14 on the Yoyogi parade ground in Tokio.

The Prime Minister, Prince Higashikuui, at a Press conference, attributed the nation's defeat to tl rapid deterioration of its fighting strength, the reason for which would be revealed at the forthcoming session of the Diet. He urged the nation to thoroughly repent. , The "Asahi Shimbun said: 'Japanese militarism must be abolished. It is because we relied solely on force that we must now taste miserable defeat. We must abandon the idea that might is right.” . „ , Deriding ‘‘vulgar nationalism, the paper said: “If the Japanese seek revenge against the Allies they will wind up, like Germany, in a state of total disruption.

The Domei news agency, announcing the resignation of Lieutenant-General Teiichi Suzuki from the Presidency of the Japan Patriotic and Industrial Association, said that this organization smacked of Government puppets. .Something was lacking, to win the favour of the Japanese labouring classes.