THE JAPANESE CABINET RESIGNS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 77, Issue 157, 5 July 1934, Page 4

THE JAPANESE CABINET RESIGNS

”j”HE resignation of the Japanese Cabinet has come as no surprice to those who have been closely observing the current history of Japan. For a long time there has been a growing restlessness, and a corresponding growing restlessness on the part of those who have been in power. Political assassinations have been more frequent than usual in recent months, while the suppression of “dangerous thoughts” has been more rigorously engaged in. The fear of Communists, the drain of the Manchurian adventure, coupled with the antagonism of China, all pointed the way to the dissolution of the Cabinet sooner or later. It is possible that the Japanese will elect another and a similar Cabinet, and that the old game will go on as before. The continuance of corruption in high places, nevertheless, is hardly likely to aid the continuance of the present constitution of Japan, and it is possible that a more democratic regime will be eventually ushered in. At the present time the army is responsible to the Emperor alone, and the same holds true of the navy. The military commander who has received the word from headquarters soon provokes an outbreak of hostilities and claims that he acted,under “military necessity.” This commits the Government of the day to a course of belligerency, and all that the Government has to do is to find the money for the adventure. The military tail wags the dog in Japan to-day. The difficulties which arise from such a constitutional arrangement are now written in the Japanese Budget, which is heavily out of balance. Whether this unbalanced Budget has anything to do with the acts of corruption which have compelled the Cabinet to resign, cannot, of course, be said. But it is a general axiom that high taxation breeds corruption. Japan has already shown her capability to make dramatic and drastic changes in her internal Government. When the Shogun, or Clan leaders, were overthrown and the present era, called the Era of Enlightenment, was established, a degree of constitutionalism which was a tremendous bound along the road to Parliamentarianism, was achieved with lightning speed. Another move is -already overdue in Japan, and'it will not be surprising if this expected internal development takes place very soon.