NOT TO RESIGN

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 104, 4 May 1937, Page 11

NOT TO RESIGN

JAPANESE CABINET

TO PROCEED WITH PLANS

TOKIO, May 3,

Despite the fact that the Government won only 40 out of 466 seats in the elections, the Prime Minister, General Hayashi, declares that he is not resigning. He is proceeding with the programme already outlined, and urged co-operation to meet national problems.

The Japanese Diet was dissolved by Imperial Ordinance on March 31, the Cabinet issuing an explanation that the dissolution .was due to a lack of sincerity on the part of the existing Parliament which had obstructed many measures vital to defence and the preservation of the livelihood of the people. ,The crisis arose through the Minseito and Seiyukai Parties holding up Bills in order to force 'electoral reform of the Lower House. They refused to heed the Government's warning, whereupon General Hayashi went to the Imperial Palace and obtained a dissolution. The army had long desired this.

A cablegram early last month declared that a military dictatorship was likely if the elections went against the Government. With the help of Cabinet members, the Prime Minister (General Hayashi) was; trying to form a new national party. It was stated that, backed by the army, the Cabinet wanted to reduce the Diet to a "rubberstamp" status, giving the Government wide powers on the Fascist model. Although the Diet recently approved a huge military Budget, the army resented members' criticisms of the expenditure, and wanted to abolish Parliament. Even if General Hayashi succeeded in forming his new party, it was believed that he would face a more hostile Diet after the elections. In this event, the army might come in to support him.