CRISIS OCCURS IN JAPAN

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 341, 23 January 1937, Page 5

CRISIS OCCURS IN JAPAN

DIET SUSPENDED. MINISTERS JEERED. Budget Expenditure On Arms Causes Discontent. Press .Association —Copyright, Tokio, January 22. Mr. Hirota, Mr. Aita (Foreign Minister), and Mr. Baba (Finance Minister) repeated in the House of Representatives this afternoon the speeches they made in the House of Peers this morning concerning the Budget and future expenditure. Mr. Baba’s statement that large Budgets with deficits would continue for some years roused shouts of "Shame” and “We dont’ accept that.” An angry debate followed. Many accused the Cabinet of being too strongly influenced by the Army. Mr Hamada, selected to speak .for the Seiykai Party, broadly hinted that the Army desired a dictatorship. Mr. Hirota protested that he respected the parties, but he was jeered. General Terauchi accused Mr. Hamada of trying to sow discord between the Army and the people,, but he sat down abruptly when disorder arose in the Seiykai benches. Mr. Hirota went to the palace and had a three hours’ conference with the Emperor, after which a decree suspending Parliament for two days was issued. If the opposition shows no signs of subsiding in two days, Mr. Hirota can seek a further suspension, followed by dissolution, or he may tender the resignation of the Cabinet or compromise by a Cabinet reconstruction. In the meantime both the Army and Navy resent the attacks. A Tokio message received this morning states that whether the Diet will actually be dissolved, depends upon to-morrow’s Cabinet meeting. Several ministers are striving to conciliate the deputes I for, if the Diet dissolved, the Budget would automatically be thrown out.

SIGNIFICANT MOVE. Sensational Manifesto Issued From War Office. Press Association —Copyright, Received noon. Tokio, January 22. A significant move in the Cabinet crisis was the issue of a sensational manifesto from the Wai- Office anouncing that the Army was unable to co-operate with the politicians because they were putting intrigues before the national welfare and blocking reform measures. This followed “the insult to the Army,’ alleged to have been made in yesterday’s debate. General Teraucki threatens to resign it the dissolution of Parliament is rejected. Naval circles are urging a compromise.