ASSASSINATIONS IN JAPAN

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21416, 7 March 1935, Page 13

ASSASSINATIONS IN JAPAN

O DESTROYING FREEDOM OF THE PRESS GOVERNMENT ATTACKED (UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION—BY ELECTRIC TLLEGRAI'H —COPYRIGHT.) (Received March G, 11 p.m.) TOKYO, March 5. In an amazing speech in the Diet, Masazurm Ando (leader of the Seiyukai or Liberal party) said he knew his life was insecure, because with reactionaries rampant, he intended to reveal the prevailing conditions under a politically and bureaucratically suppressed press. "True deliberation in the Diet on government policies is impossible," he said. "We resent Government neglect to control ruffians vigorously, and oppose the trend towards Fascism originating in unseen hands, and operating behind the police and the mihtaiy, There is a certain military faction which is to be blamed. Ri actionary organisations are destroying the freedom of the press and speech in the Diet. Under a mask, they are approved by the militarists. "Criticisms ventured by members ot the Diet on militarism and diplomacy are immediately inteiureted by reactionaries as unpatriotic. The succession of assassinations of business men, newspaper men, and threat* against legislators' lives indicates a trnckrxy to imperil lite people's freed'm. Unlawful acts of violence are rem; ring w;th remarkable frequency."