Evening star., 1938-02-26
K0N0YE W|L[PUSH
JAPAN'S WAR BILL
Premier to Appear Before
Diet Subcommittee
Monday.
~ the Associate Press.

TOXIC, Feb. 26.-Victorious in It's
drst pitched battle with the govern
ment over the drastic general mobili-
nation bill, the Diet subcommittee to
which it was sent for revision avoided
discussion Of 1t In q brief session today.
The 45-member subcommittee con-
vened for 10 minutes and elected a
chairman, then adjourned until Mon
day. It was believed the government
would unlimber It's biggest gun
Premier Prince Fumimaro Konoye-
at the subcommittee's next session.
The premier remained at his SUBJ
urban villa during the general sessions
OF the Diet, when the lower House
howled down government supporters
Of the bitterly controversial measure.
Declared Unconstitutional.
It was criticized as Fascistic and
dictatorial in nature. Members of the
Diet charged it would emasculate the
japanese constitution and rob the peo-
pie Of their basic rights.
Foreign Minister Koki Hirota, War
Minister General Gen Sugiyama, Home
Minister Admiral Nohumasa Suetsuga
and various other hign officials failed
to convince the House 1t was fitting
piece Of legislation. even under the
existing war emergency.
The general mobilization bill would
give the government mandates amount
ing to absolute power over the people
It contains so articles, the first 80 OF
which stipulate government may i'm
press labor for general mobilization
work." appropriate citizens, suppress
newspapers, prohibit the right of as
sembly and suppress freedom Of speech
Each Of these 80 articles begins "ir
time Of war or national emergency. ~
The Diet attacked the phrases am
biguity, charging it would be entirely
subject to the governments interpreta-
ton.
The last 20 articles specify punish
ments for violating the first 30.
Army and Navy Behind Bill.
The army and navy stand solidly be.
hind the bill. Thus, observers see
the basic underlying conflict as per.
haps the last great struggle between
the Diet and the militarists. The Diet
has not offered such resistance in
years.
It approved staggering military bud
gets without dissenting voice and
sanctioned emergency laws for control
OF finance and trade without ques-
ton.
But when it came to the general
mobilization bill. speakers rose to de-
nounce it as high treason against
the state"
Government speakers declared the
bill was necessary purely for China
incident purposes. Cabinet speakers
said they hoped the Diets patriotism
would sanction the bills passage.
Members of the Diet based their
opposition strategy on the conten-
tion that the bill violates article 81
OF the constitution, which directly
names the Emperor and says his pow
ers shall not be superseded.
Cabinet May Resign.
They predicted the government
would pull the bills teeth" and then
resubmit 1t. In case Of an unbreak-
able deadlock, the cabinet may dis
solve the Diet or the cabinet may re-
sign.
Diet dissolution was considered un-
likely. however, since the Diet holds
power over the budget and supple
mentary military estimates have not
yet been passed. Should the Diet be
dissolved, the previous years esti-
mates would remain in effect
The United States, curiously enough,
was dragged into the Diet controversy.
Pro-government newspapers splashed
the American House Committees ap-
proval of measure to give the Presi-
dent wide powers in wartime.
Banner lines said America Passed
General Mobilization Law"
Manchukuo passed a general mobi-
ltzation bill, but news of this action
was given only secondary prominence.
-Four members Of the Diet visited
Home Minister Suetsuga and handed
him a statement demanding protec-
don. They declared their freedom
Of will" had been threatened by the
turbulent Toxic situation.