Evening star., 1938-02-25


Japan, confronted NTH grave
economic problems in Ddr against
China, has already taken long
steps to government control of busi-
ness and the liUes OF its citizens in
maritime. Strict regulation OF for
etgn exchange is practiced and inn
ports are subjected to quantitatiue
restrictions as rell as high tariffs.
DUindling gold supply necessitates
increment toWard greater selt-suf-
fciency.
By the Associated Press.
TOXIC, Feb. 25-The japanese
cabinet and Parliament were in Bit
ter deadlock today over dictatorial
war control bill.
A situation amounting to a cabinet
crisis crystsllized between the Diet
Parliament) and the cabinet over the
measure Lower House members OBJ
jected was copied after Fascist laws
Of Germany and Italy.
The government was determined to
obtain approval for the general mobili-
cation bill, which would impose war;
time regulation of Japanese business,
onance, property and private lives.
Japan Apprehensive.
Because of the crisis, Japan ap-
preached the anniversary of the army
uprising of February 26, 1896, with
grave apprehension.
Adding to the concern was the Chi
nese bombardment Wednesday of the
Japanese island Of Formosa, and fears
that one OF the main islands OF this
thickly-settled empire might be sub
lected to air raids.
1t was indicated Japanese would
conduct mass raid on Hankow, tenn
porary Chinese capital. in reprisal for
the Formosa bombardment.
After heated debate, the measure
was sent for consideration late this
afternoon to a 45-member committee
Representatives continued savage
onslaughts against what they termed
the "Nazi style" bill in their argu-
ments today. One, Hideo Ikeda, de-
clared:
What now lies before us is an
extremely mysterious bill-like dogs
meat imposed upon us as mutton"
THE situation is very grave" said
the war minister, Gen Gen Sugiyama
speaking on the general mobilization
bill. THE fate OF the nation hangs on
this occasion"
SuyetsuEu Calls War Officers.
Before Parliament resumed today
after the turbulent session which ended
In recess yesterday. Admiral Nobumasa
Suyetsugu, minister of home affairs
summoned high war officers to his
official residence.
He is reported to have declared:
IF the two parties (Minseito and
eeiyukai, major political parties) fail
to understand the seriousness of this
bill, the government must be prepared
to face them with extreme determina-
ton in order to obtain its passage"
During the night, both the govern
ment and Parliament leaders held ex-
tended conferences. Minseito and
Seiyukai cheftains mapped their
strategy in night-long sessions at
party headquarters.
Copying Fascists Charged.
One Of the most outspoken oppo-
nents Of the general mobilization bill
WAS Ryozo Maxine. a member of the
Seiyukai. He bluntly accused the gov
ernment of copying Fascist technique
when he assailed the bill in Parlia-
ment late yesterday.
General mobilization he said, "is
an ultra-legal fact, forcing the people
Internationally to offer their lives and
their persons to the state. The gov
er1lment has taken its example from
the general mobilization laws of Italy
and Germany. Those countries have
transgressed their constitutions"
"Japan's imperial constitution" the
Representative said, has kept con-
sideration for this point. During war;
time, the policy of Japan belongs to
the prerogatives of the Emperor Ar
ticle 81 of the constitution guarantees
this"
The article he mentioned corre-
spends to the Anglo-Saxon Bill of
Rights. The general mobilization bill
would, among other things. prohibit
the right of assembly and freedom of
speech in time of war or national
emergency.
Robbery of Rights Charged.
To wild cheering. Maxine and Takao
Saito, Minseito leader, declared the
bill would emasculate completely ia
pans constitution and rob the people
OF their basic rights.
Disorders and heckling greeted both
suyetsugu and Sugiyama when they
replied to questions on the measure.
Sugiyama defended it as a neces-
sity in the present war with China
and said existing laws controlling busi-
ness, foreign trade and finance were
not strong enough At one point he
shouted dramatically: The govern
ment does not intend to restrict the
peoples freedom or oppress private
interests"
Maxine objected that further dis
cussion was useless because the gov
ernment's attitude is one Of rashness
and indiscretion"
Even newspapers which have been
regarded as most friendly to the gov
ernment criticized cabinet >members
replies to questions on the bill as
"lukewarm and obscure"
One newspaper said none OF the
cabinet members was capable of CIV
ing a satisfactory reply. Even the
justice minister. who knows the law