OPENING OF DIET

Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 57, 5 September 1945, Page 7

OPENING OF DIET

Eec. 11 a.m. LONDON, September 4. The Emperor of Japan has opened an extraordinary session of the Japanese Parliament and told his subjects to overcome the hardships attending" the end of the war, to remain calm, and to show the innate glory of Japan. The Emperor spoke from a golden throne upholstered in red plush. The correspondent reporting this was one of about 50 Allied correspondents who attended. Their arrival was timed so as not to coincide with the visit of the Emperor. They were given instructions not to eat, drink, or smoke, or to carry arms inside the chamber. They were also told that they might be searched. At first they refused to attend, but they went after General Mac Arthur had said that the Japanese had no right to search them.

The House of Peers resolved "to acknowledge the reality of our defeat and to cut a way out of the present situation," reports the Tokio correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain. The Peers decided to embark upon a new course of .. ational rebuilding with a view to safeguarding the age-old national structure and contributing to world peace so that his majesty's mind may be put at rest. The Japanese Government has begun taking a census and other preparations for a general election. " The Cabinet, which is viewed as a temporary surrender Government, is expected to resign as soon as possible. The Domei news agency in a broadcast acknowledged the comparatively, strict military discipline among the occupation forces, but charged the Americans with six cases of brutality and 38 cases of looting and other unlawful conduct. The agency suggested that the people of Japan should take the following -precautions in an effort to minimise incidents: "Lock doors: women should wear clothing conservatively; avoid travelling at night— women particularly; if someone is breaking into your home, scream; if anyone attacks you, bite, scratch, and tear off insignia for evidence; do not display watches or fountain pens." In a general order General MacArthur authorised the American army to requisition anything they need in Japan. He instructed the Japanese to turn over all existing prisoner of war camps to the highest ranking officer interned in each camp, who is given authority to demand from the Japanese whatever food and medical-care are necessary for his camp. ,-•• ~ The delivery of ,the ashes of Japanese war dead in Tokior-Yokohama, Chiba. and Ibaragi, which was scheduled for September 7, has been postponed indefinitely as a precautionary measure. The Associated Press comments that the broadcast implied that the Japanese authorities feared there might be trouble between the Allied forces and the people. Vice-Admiral Masao Kanazawa, commandant of the Kure naval base, greeted correspondents with the words, "It's all finished. It's good. Now we can play tennis together again." He said that the Japanese went into the war on orders and stopped fighting on orders. The reason for the latter orders was something he did not understand; it was a matter of higher policy. LANDING OF U.S. TROOPS. Tokio radio estimated that 100,000 American troops will be landed in Japan by nightfall today. The Foreign Minister, Mr. Shigemitsu, again had a lengthy conference with General MacArthur today. A Japanese communique states that an initial American force of 3350 troops will enter- the metropolitan area of Tokio on Friday, and that'll,6so troops are now moving into the Kanagawa and Shizuoka prefectures. Approximately 20,000 American troops, are scheduled to land today at the Tachikawa army, air base, northwest of the capital, according to Tokio radio. As a precautionary measure the police will establish- questioning posts to prevent any untoward incident. When a reconnaissance team of 2500 dismounted cavalrymen landed at Tateyama, says the radio, the -Japanese officers complimented the Americans on their smartly-executed amphibious landing, which was witnessed by 1600 armed Japanese. General Mac Arthur has ordered Tokio radio to suspend all foreignlanguage broadcasts. The Japaneselanguage broadcasts will continue.