SERIOUS CRISIS in Japanese Politics

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 6, 22 January 1937, Page 5

SERIOUS CRISIS in Japanese Politics

-Press Assn

ARMY DOMINATION Plans for Expansion of Armaments BRITISH "INTERFERENCE"

(By Telegraph-

Copyright.)

(Receiyed 22, 1.25 p.m.) TOKIO, Jan. 21. The political crisis developed rapidly to-day. The Premier, Mr. Koki Hirota, presenting his programme to the Bouse of Peers stressed the necessity for expansion of armaments "to ensure onr existence, carry out national policies, maintain our position as the stabilising power of East Asia and march forward in peace." The Premier's speech revealed that1 the extension of the period of compulgory education is intended to reinvigoxate the national spirit' and ^lectric Power Board control is intended to meet the requirements of defence besides stimulating production. The programme includes seheaies for the production of liquid fuel and the development of civil aviation. Tax reform will provide funds for Uefence besides a fairer distribution burdens. The first interpellator, Viscount Watanabe, vigorously denounced the power Jof politics and dictatorships. Mr Hirota, Mr Arita and the Finance Minister, Mr Baba, repeated in the House of Representatives in the afternoon the speeches they had made to the Peers in the morning. Mr Baba's •tatement that large budgets with de■ficits would continue for some years, ronsed shouts of "Shame!" and "Wf* won't accept that!" An angry debate followed. Many accused Cahinet of being too strongly influenced hy the Army. Mr Hamada, who was selected to speak for the Seiyukai Party, broadly Mnted that the Army desired a dictatorship. Mr Hirota protested that he respect•d parties, hut was jeered. General Teraucti accused Mr Hamada of trying to sow discord hetween the Army and the people, but sat down •abruptly" when disorder tftoae in tb© Seiyukai benches. Mr Hirota went to the Palaoo and had a htree-houra conferettde with tha Emperor, after whioh a decre© suspending Parliament for two daye was iasued. If the Opposition ahows no signs of subsiding within two davs Mr Hirota can either seek a further suspeasion followed hy dissolution, tendfer his reeignation to Cabinet or compromise hy Gabinefc reconstrnction. In the meantxme, both the Army and Navy resent the attacks. Mr Hirota had announced a geven-point programme including the atrengthening of the national defences, industrial development and commercial expansion. Mr. Hirota declared that he intended to exert further eflforts to improve her relations with Britain. It was hoped to bring to a conclusion a Just and f air treaty of naval limitation to replace the Washington and London treaties. The Powers should not treat eolonial markets in the spirit of the Congo Basin Treaty hut should aim at the reduction of trade harriers, a'lie German-Japanese agreement, he said, was aimed only against the activities of the Comintern. Japan hoped to tnaintain noxmal relations with the Soviet and to pursue negotiations with China despite past failure. A War Office pamphlet justifying the huge armaments and the Budget frank\y accused Britain of interfering at every turn in Japanese continental policy, tending to impair the SinoJapanese rapprochement for peace in East Asia. The Soviet is said to be nndisguisedly provocative and America's dearest desire is the control of the Pacifie and an increase of her hold in the Chinese market, for which reason ■he is hurriedly strengthening her navy and fortifications.