The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-10-17
Religious Freedom In Japan. Receives Cabinet Approval
Americans Uneorfh $I,lo0.Oo0 Cache Of Silver Bars
BY RALPH TEATsORTH

AsAAA@A - = A@sA = W " - ~ United Press Staff Correspondent
 Tokyo, Oct. 17.-(UP) The Japanese cabinet todas abolished the religious or ganization control law in compliance with Gen. Doug las MacArthur's demand for religious freedom in Japan.
 (The cable did not say whether the cabinets action would have any effect on State Shintoism, by which the Japanese people are com pelled to recognize Emperor Hirohito as a God-the Son of Heaven.)
 While the cabinet was hewing to MacArthur's line, an American search party unearthed a cache of silver bars worth Sl. 100000 presufa- ably hidden away by Japanese tnili- tarists for future use. It was found beneath an abandoned Navy ma chine shop on the shores of Tokyo Bay.
 Combat veterans of the Ameri- can Divisions i32nd Infantry Regi- ment, Q former Chicago National Guard outfit, made the discovery during @ routine search of old rusting machinery in A shop at Eza@ ratsuka Naval Ordnance Depot.
 Camouflaged Trap
 As they were about to leave, one soldier noticed weeds growing in all irregular pattern in a corner. In vestigation disclosed they carlAosf4 flaged c trap door covering 6 tiI1r her-lined pit l6 feet deep.
 At the bottom of the pit, the astonished Americans found no bars of silver valued at 4iO,0O0 apiece and each stamped with Q serial number from the Osaka Imperial mint.
 Army authorities said the silver bars would be added to c growing pile of Japanese precious metal and other treasurieS uncovered throu8ll% out the enemy homeland.
 Emperor Hirohito, meantime, de- clared . general amnesty affecting 1000, 900 persons on the occasion of todays' harvest festival.
 It includes . reduction in prison terms for 37.0O0 persons, restora1aou of civil rights to 00O,000 and q special amnesty for 310, 900 not c0y- cred by the provisions Of the gen. eral amnesty.
 The action restored civil lrshtS ! to recently-xeieasod' ConalAl1lIz Well-informed Japanese quarters said Hirohito was inotivated hy q desire to permit as many Japanese as possible to participate in forth coming general elections.
 The newspaper Yomiuri Hoehi said ct least four of Japan,s main industrial combines were preparing to dissolve in compilance with or ders from Gen. Douglas MacArthllf. He charged that all had financed and exploited Japanese military conquests.
 The newspaper said that tho Mitsui and Iwasaki families would withdraw from the Mitsul and Mlt- subishi financial organization, cf~ fering their entire stock holding for sale on the open market.
 The Yasuda family has decided fo withdraw from the Yasuda flnanciei group with the reorganization oi the Yasuda companies, while the main Sulnitomo company will be dissolved with settlement of e1o.- 000,0 capital owned entirely by the Sumitomo family. Text PUSIlshed
 Tokyo newspapers published the full text of MacArthur's report 70 the world yesterday on the de- mobilization of Japan and her pros- poets for the future.
 Mainichi's main headline said: "Jap Armed Forces Now Completely Out of Existence Without a Single Shot Fired, without a Drop of A. lied Blood Shed; Revolution for Res toration of Freedom Starts"
 A headline in Yomiuri aochi said: American Army's Unshakable Dis cipline Model For All Time" Cried Asahi; Revolution Starts for Recop- cry of Freedom; Jap Militarlst Shudder at Punishment"
 There was no editorial comment but a columnist in Mainich said:
 'MacArthur's statement that sJa- pan no longer reckons as a w0rlC power, either large or small presents real picture of Japan. Unless klif Japanese nation recognizes this grin fact, it will be fatal stumhiln block to reconstruction"