JAPAN’S TROUBLES

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10537, 13 March 1920, Page 8

JAPAN’S TROUBLES

■» [POPULAR AGITATION DEMAND FOR UNIVERSAL SUFFRAGE. > PREMIER'S BOMBSHELL. By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. TOKIO, March 7. The longest sustained popular agitation in tho constitutional history of Japan is a* its crisis. There is a widely organised demonstration marked by many attacks on official residences and ferocious personal attacks. The Premier declares that the agitators , are not representative of , tho national opinion, and tho Government is stubbornly resisting the elaborate efforts of innumerable societies composed of students, the middle classes, and professional agitators. Tho strike of the Government steel-workers involves a heavy national loss. Thirty thousand mon aro idle, and there is much sabotage and social unrest. The dissolution of tho Diet -terminated with dramatic suddenness after many months of intensive agitation.

Mr Hara, tho Premier, amid an uproarious debate, challenged the validity of the demand for universal suffrage, and urged tho submission of tho question to the people’s judgment. Then ho flourished an Imperial Rescript, ordering tho dissolution. It produced the effect of a bomb-shell, and was a typically Haraesquo example of the adroit avoidance of an impasse. The police control during the extraordinary scene of excitement outside the Diet proved that the Government was well prepared for eventualities. TROOPS REACH TOKIO. Reuter’s Telegram. (Received March 12, 5.5 p.m.) TOKIO, March 7. Tho ironworks at Yawata were euspended indefinitely on February 26th. Owing to rioting troops Have arrived.