The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-06-11

Almost from the day the Diet opened for business, members of the upper and lower houses began to criticize the government, attack its policies or point out the lack of them. The governments pet bills met stiff opposition. The spirit of free speech which seemed to per- wade the two houses became so strong at one time that Jusha Tsumura, member of the House Of Peers resigned after what many called . slip of the tongue.
 Probably no Diet in recent his- tory engaged in more free speech than the one just ended.
 Although the opposition criti' cized some of the governmental pro- cedures and even engaged in heat- ed verbal attacks on individual ca- binet members, there never was the slightest indication that the oppo- sition, even the proletarian faction, was not loyal to the nation.
 Government Bills Delayed
 Outwardly at least, the outbursts of free speech were not disturbing
 The government in addition to submitting the annual budget, of- fered two measures designed to pre- vent the circulation of pamphlets and all other writings that might prove disturbing or actually sedi- tious. Their passage was delayed.
 There are about as many news paper men in Japanese lower house as there are lawyers. They sensed the danger that free speech might be suppressed. Not for @ single day did the Diet members permit the Feb. 2csrebellion to be forgotten. They repeatedly asked who was re- sponsible and how were similar iil- cldents to Do prevented.
 When state ministers began talk ing about aviation improvement, Diet members questioned each one and showed that Premier Hirota and even the minister of comrnun- ications who has charge of aviation, had never been in an airplane.
 To the surprise of the seers the government took 1t all good na- tuTedly. Premier and state niais- ters answered questions.
 Remark Ends One Career
 Things went on rather well in the give and take spirit until Tsu- rura hinted that the common sol- dlers were more patriotic and had batter spirit than the officers
 This was too much for 8 great section of civilian Japan as well as for the army. The House of Peers .reprimanded the member. War Minister Terauchi refuted the charge and then Tsumura finding the situation too hot, resigned.
 Because of tho February inci- dent and the enforcement follow- ing 1t, 1t was predicted that the pro- letarians in the Diet either would be silent or cause an early dissolu- ton order. The proletarians shout ed as never before and nothing came of 1t.
 The following speech by Hisashi, proletarian member of the House of Representatives, is sample of the freedom of speech that prevailed.
 "The governments reform pro- gram was empty at the outset" he asserted. Tn the words of the Grand old Man, Yukio Czaki, While you are at ease, another more serious incident may take place.
 "Premier Hirota forces on us his slogan for serving the country at the sacrifice of life. He is supposed to be serving the Emperor and state with the determination to face death. But what we want badly to- day Is neither his sincerity nor his life.
 Concrete Policy Demanded
 "What we want is concrete DO. Hey by which the government would reconstruct capitalism, stabilize the peoples life and complete the ma tlonal defense, without causing third incident of the kind we have just had. But the cabinet has not Q single concrete policy.
 Premier Hirota doesn't like May Day. If he doesn't like May Day, he shouldn't like capitalism which has given birth to May Day. But the Premier says he likes the moth- CT, though he doesn't like her child.
 "On the opening day of the Diet the Premier banned the Japanese dress and forced us proletarians to wear the swallow-tail. And did you