GOVERNMENT DOOMED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18707, 13 May 1924, Page 9

GOVERNMENT DOOMED.

'.:, SITUATION "'IN JAPAN. FIRST / ELECTION RETURNS. ANTI-AMERICAN . FEELING. *" - * ' By Twlosraph—Press Anociation— Copyriff&t(Received 10.5 p.m.) •• A. and N.Z. . • TOKIO. May ,11 . ' Unofficial returns from the provincial districts continue to indicate the growing strength of the Kcnseikai Party. - s leaders now . claim that they will have a majority of the seats in the Diet, and the present indications confirm the claim. . This result was not foreseen. It is con- • sidered that it will certainly doom V iscount Kiyoura's . Government, and cause • its immediate resignation, since the rime Minister oould only expect support from the Seyukai and Seiyohunto parties, both of which appear to be falling behind. Election day was ushered in with violence. Riots : are reported from all over the country, and there was one. politica murder. . Gangs emulating the American Ku Klux Klan and attired in white robes, raided the headquarters of various . candidates, beating the watchers. Numerous fights occurred between , the gangs, and gendarmes were summoned. • Anti-American feeling was intensified when the newspapers printed despatches intimating that the House of Representatives had declined to accept March .1, 1925, as the first date'for the enforcement of Japanese exclusion. .'' yI y ■ Early returns, indicated that the Government was losing, even members of 'the Cabinet admitting that the chances of a majority were most remote. One element of the Cabinet is known to be urging the Cabinet's resignation if the election goes adversely:' Other members, especially M. Mizuno, Minister for Home Affairs, is insisting upon the retention of power at least until Juno 6, when the Diet meets. The interim could be utilised in an attempt to enlist sufficient members now belonging to enemy parties to join the Government forces and give Viscount Kiyoura a majority. • It is believed that the Mizuno faction will prevail unless the Opposition majority is overwhelming. In • that event the Cabinet will resign probably before the Diet meets. • '