JAPANESE CABINET

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 April 1946, Page 6

JAPANESE CABINET

RESIGNATION ANNOUNCED

TOKIO, April 22.

The Japanese Cabinet has resigned. The resignation followed a special meeting of Cabinet called, it was stated, “to stabilise the political situation.” Liberals and Progressives had won a majority of seats in the recent elections.

Earlier, the Prime Minister (Baron •Shidehara) had stated that he would not resign until the Diet had decided on the new constitution for Japan.

Although the Japanese Army has been disbanded, reports are accumulating that many former Japanese officers are at present banded together with the ultimate aim of seizing power in the event of any relaxation in the Allied occupational control. The correspondent of the Associated Press in Tokio states that reports on these groups, whose names and locations in many instances are known to the occupation authorities, come from Japanese and civilian Allied nationals as well as 'occupation troops.

RESIGNATION OFFICIALLY ACCEPTED (Rec. 10 a.m.) TOKIO, April 22. Emperor Hihohito gave an audience to Mr. Shidehara and accepted the Cabinet’s resignation. Then, in accordance with traditional practice, he asked Mr. Shidehara to remain in office until his successor could be appointed. Informed Japanese said that Emperor Hirohito will not participate in the actual selection of the next premier. It is expected that Mr. Shidehara, as president of the Progressive Party (Conservative), will begin conferences immediately for a coalition Cabinet, with Mr. Itahiro Hatoyama, president of the Liberals (Conservative) and Mr. Tetsu Kotoyama, the Social Democrat ■ leader (left of centre). The next premier will be chosen on the basis of their discussions, provided agreement is reached.