The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-01-17

J to the House Foreign Affairs had outrageously distorted Koh Ishii, spokesman for the cabinets information bureau, made it known that the government was preparing a formal statement in reply to Hull after having studied carefully reports in reply to Hull after having studied carefully re- ports from the embassy at Wash ington.
 Subsequently, however, the gov ernment reconSidered and decided not to issue a statement regarding Hulls speech at present. No reason for the decision was given but it was reported that the government was anxious to avoid any unneceS- sary aggravation of strained Japa- nese- American relations. A spokes- man said merely that "the state ment has been postponed indefi- nitely."
 It was reported also that Foreign Minister Yosuke MatSuoka would make full dress speech before par lament, probably Tuesday, on Japan's attitude and would charge that the United States was disre- garding the realities" of the situa- ton in the Far East.
 U. s. War Challenge
 The newspapers, which often are officially inspired in such instances, repeated a charge that the United States had now issued a clear-cut war challenge" to the Axis powers Japan, by reason of its alliance with Germany and Italy, is linked to them.
 They said also that despite what ever the United States might do Japan would proceed firmly with it's South Seas expansion program.
 Asahi, saying that Hull's statement was an advance over President RooSevelt'S recent fireside speech and message to congress, com mented:
 Especially Hull's declaration re- garding American relations with the Axis powers was most bold and most candid. The like of it had not been seen before. It was a clear challenge to the Axis powers short of an ultimatum. Regarding Far Eastern issues the United States in the past refrained from mention ing the name of Japan. Importance must be attached to the fact that the attack has now openly been started in Congress by the responsi- ply placed Secretary of State."
 Japan, having it's alliance with Germany and Italy as a pre-de- termined policy, cannot but advance the establishment of an East Asia common prosperity sphere" it said, and continued to say:
 ASiatic Races Hit
 "ThiS sphere is meant to emanci- pate the Asiatic races of East Asia from oppression and exploitation by the Whites, regardless whether the United States likes it or not" Yomiuri said: "At the present l A"oC tA4C OAl1GCO SOtdGCS WOu1u 4lOI have defense to make against the charge that it is the ring leader of world disturbance which might well plunge the world into gen. eral war"
 There was ample evidence that the government was beset by num- erous domestic problems as well as by foreign ones.
 The government announced to- day that it had abandoned a plan to limit the vote to heads of fami- lies who are more than 25 years old and to eX-Service men. The plan would have disenfranchised 4000- 900 voters. It met widespread pub lie opposition but apparentl ythe deciding factor was the opposition of the army on the ground that it conflicted with the non-political priciple of universal military serv- ice.
 Eight To Be Tried
 At the Tokyo District Court Ken inchiro Homma, 52, and eight others described as radicals were committed for trial charged with at tempting in July 1889 to assassinate certain senior statesmen whom they regarded as pro-British. The press had been forbidden to publish any news of the attempt and the gov ernment still withheld the names of the intended victims. Homma had led plotters who assassinated Premier Tsuyoshi Inukai in 1882. He had been released from prison in 1887.
 When the diet meets next week it vii lbe called upon to approve the biggest budget in the country's his- tory and to approve tightening of the governments control of eco homie activities despite opposition from indlstrialists so strong that Prince Fumimaro Konoye, the pre- mier, recently strengthened the cab inet in preparation for fight.