CRISIS IN JAPAN

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 18, 22 January 1937, Page 10

CRISIS IN JAPAN

EVENTFUL DAY

SCENES OF DISORDER

HIROTA'S POLICY

PARLIAMENT SUSPENDED

(United Pfess Association —By Electric Telacraph—Copyrlslit.) (Received January 22, 2.30 p.m.) TOKIO, January 21. The political crisis developed rapidly today. Tlie Premier, Mr. Hirota, presenting his programme to the House of Peers, stressed the necessity lor an expansion of armaments "to ensure our existence, to carry out our national policies, to maintain our position as the stabilising power of East Asia, and to march forward in peace." The • Premier's spcech revealed that an extension of the period of compulsory education is intended to reinvigorate the national spirit. Electric power board control is intended to meet the requirements of defence, besides stimulating production. The programme includes schemes for the production of liquid fuel and the development of civil aviation. Tax reform will provide funds for defence, besides providing for a fairer distribution of burdens. The first interpelator was Viscount Watanabe, who vigorously denounced the power of politics and dictatorships. Mr. Hirota, Mr. Arita, and the Finance Minister, Mr. E. Baba, repeated in the House of Representatives in the afternoon the speeches they made to the Peers in the morning. Mr. 1 Baba's statement that large Budgets, with deficits, would continue for. some years roused shouts of "Shame" and "We don't accept that. An angry debate followed.' _ Many accused the Cabinet of being too strongly influenced by the army. Mr. Hamada was selected to speak for the Seiyukai Party and broadly hinted that the army desired dictatorHirota protested. He is respected by all parties but was jeered. General Terauchi accused Mr. Hamada of trying to sow discord between the army and the people, but he sat down abruptly when disorder arose in the Seiyukai benches. Mr. Hirota went to the palace for a three hours' conference with the Emoeror, and afterwards a decree suspending Parliament for two days was issued. If the Opposition shows no signs of subsiding in two days Mr. Hirota can seek a further suspension, followed by dissolution, tender his resignation to Cabinet, or compromise by Cabinet reconstruction. In the meantime, both the army and the navy resent the attacks.