CRISIS IN JAPAN

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 144, 13 March 1920, Page 7

CRISIS IN JAPAN

SUSTAINED POPULAR AGITATIONS

COSTLY STRIKE AND SABOTAGE

(By Telegraph-Press Association-Copyright

I Tokio, Starch 7.

The longest sustained popular ngitav tion 'in the constitutional -"history. oP: Japan is at'its crisis. There is a widely, organised demonstration marked by many attacks on official residences and-feroci-ous personal attacks. Tho Premior declares that the agitations are not representative of national opinion, and.theGovernment* is stubbornly resisting the elaborate efforts of innumerable societies- composed of students,-itlio middlo, classes, and professional-agitators., The strike, of the Government steel-workers Involves a heavy national-loss. Thirty thousand men are idle,' and there are : much sabotage and social unrest... .-Tho dissolution,, of the Diet, terminated with dramatic suddenness after, many months: of intensiva agitation.; Mr. Hawi,.- the Premier, amid an uproarious . ..debate,, ohnlienged the validity of the- demand-, for universal suffrage, and urjred the submission'Of the question to tho people's judgment. Then lie flourished an Imperial Rescript ordering, the (Vssolifc. tion. It produced-the effect of a bonibpiiell, and was a. typical example of I lie. Premier's adroitness in avoiding an. impasse. The police control during, the nx-' ■traordinary scene of .eScitgmenfc. outsidp. Kin Diet proved that .the-.Goyernmont was. well,'- prepared:' for oyen.hmli ti cs.—A us.■N.Z. Cable Assn. . IRONWORKS ,§USPM.DED.' ; .(Eec. March-.'IS, 5.5.. p.m.) ' Tokio; March - 7. ■ The' ironworks at Yawata'.were. sns-. pended indefinitely on February- 26.. ow.- ; jnj to rioting troops have arrived—Reu-, tcr.- ■ - : - .