Evening star., 1937-01-22
ARMY GIVEN AID
IN TOXIC STRIFE
Civilian Rightists Join Efforts
to Dissolve Turbulent
Diet. Y
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
TOXIC, January 22.-Civilian right
lists threw their support tonight to the
militarists who are demanding dis
solution of Japan's turbulent, anti
army diet.
That hampered the efforts Of con-
ciliators seeking compromise be-
tween the army and parliamentary
leaders who charge the army Is die
tating to the government.
The anti-dissolutionists on the cabi-
net apparently were waging losing
battle. Some were reported weaken
ing in their opposition to dispensing
the parliament and facing new elec-
tions.
The press began to regard dissolu-
ton almost as "fait accompli." Ne
gotiations and counter negotiations
continued through the night. The
cabinet will meet again at 1:30 pm.
tomorrow.
Four members, with the rumored
support of the navy minister. were
reported holding out against seeking
dissolution permission from the Mi
kado. If they stood fast, they could
block the dissolution move, demanded
by the war minister, Gen. Count JUL
chi Terauchi.
But, since the war minister must be
an active general, Count Terauchi and
his colleagues might not only wreck
the cabinet, but prevent formation Of
any other distasteful to the military.
Dissolution Reports Premature.
Reports that the cabinet already
had voted to seek Diet dissolution were
described authoritatively as prema-
ture.
Beneath the surface turmoil, men,
bers Of both contending groups, the
party leadership and the military, set
tied down to earnest efforts to reach
a compromise whereby the business of
government might be resumed Mon
day.
Prince Konoye, president Of the
House of Peers. was quoted reliably as
saying the chief problem Of Gen. Count
Julichi Terauchi, minister Of war, was
to reconcile the army command to
the necessity of cooperating with the
party men.
Political observers agreed this was
the crux of the crisis, which yesterday
saw the Diet suspend for two days on
imperial rescript, after members Of
both houses had created turbulent
scenes by their charges of army doni-
nation of government.
The indignant younger element in
the army. on the other hand, con-
tended the parties were criticizing
the military for the pure sport of it.
Cabinet members were assigned to
the task of bringing the rank and
file of their respective parties to the
point where they would be willing
to adopt a more conciliatory attitude
and control such violent utterances as
that made yesterday by Kullir1atsu
Hamada, a seiyukai party leader
in the House of Representatives
The cabinet was divided within
itself over the deSirability of disso-
luton and subsequent general election.
Curiously enough, Navy Minister Ad-
miral Osami Nagano gave indications
of deserting his army colleagues and
going over to the party cabinet men,
bers. Navy circles were said To be
reluctant to permit the disturbance
of an election campaign.
Seiyukai Opposition Strong.
The Seiyukai adopted strong reso-
luton, opposing dissolution.
A general conviction seemed to be
growing that dissolution should not
be the result of what was essentially a
quarrel between the war minister and
Hamada, who accused the army OF
giving bribes to Diet members to OBJ
tain passage of a bill creating two new
army divisions.
To many Hamada became popu-
lar hero. The party leader, who offered
to commit hara-kari if it could be
shown he had 'insulted" the army
was closely guarded by police.
The 68-year-old parliamentarian, a
former speaker of the House. already
is credited with wrecking three gov
ernments.