Japanese Poll May Decide Cold War Role

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23271, 5 June 1950, Page 5

Japanese Poll May Decide Cold War Role

(10 a.m.) TOKYO, June 4. Eighteen Communist election campaigners, one of whom carried a portrait of M. Stalin, were arrested by the Japanese police as 30,000,000 Japanese voters went to the polls today in an election which is expected to help to decide Japan's place in the cold war between the Western Powers and Russia. Japanese law bans campaigning on election clay. Japanese voted today io elect 232 members of the Upper House, the House of Councillors. The election campaign was on international rather than domestic issues. Mr. Shigeru Yoshida's Government favoured continued co-operation with the United States and a de facto peace settlement with friendly Powers, while it remained discreetly silent on the long-term question of United States military in Japan. The Communists and other Leftists did their utmost to exploit what they believed to be mounting Japanese impatience at the continued occupation. Need For Early U.S. Decision Rejection of Liberal Party candidates today would mean a hostile Upper House, which could force Mr. Yoshida out of office. The Upper House has already rejected a local taxation bill which Genera! MacArthur’s headquarters told the Prime Minister must be passed.

Students at 25 universities throughout Japan went on strike yesterday in concert with Communist demonstrations on the eve of the elections. The strikes were variously termed antiAmerican, anti-imperialist and antiEells MacArthur’s education adviser).

Observers believe that the United States must shortly decide whether to “govern or get out.” They believe that if the United States is determined to maintain bases in Japan, she must abandon talk of a peace treaty and govern openly. If America decides to proceed with a treaty, she must be ready to make arrangements for bases outside Japan.