Evening star., 1945-10-05
Occupation
Continued From First Page.)

prisoners and elimination of feudal-
istic thought control and other re-
pressive measures.
Wen-informed japanese sources
said demand for abolition of the
Emperor's current advisers was
spreading among the people who
were "in no mood to accept their
continued control over the govern
ment."
Premier Higashi-Kuni went to
Hirohito with the designations of
his cabinet members this afternoon
after two-hour meeting of the
cabinet over Gen. MacArthur's de-
mand to oust Home Minister Twas
Yamagaki in the interests of
achieving a free thinking, free
speaking Japan.
The Emperor's readiness in ac-
cepting the designations was inter-
preted as meaning he thought
stronger cabinet more pleasing to
Gen. Macarthur could be formed.
Declines Speculation.
Higashi-Kuni declined to specu-
late on who might succeed him, but
said in an Associated Press inter-
view after his visit to the palace he
| felt sure "the next Premier will
be man who knows the Ameri-
cans"
MY job is finished" he said.
He expressed confidence the next
premier would follow through the
liberal policies I tried to establish"
Authoritative japanese sources
said Gen. MacArthur's Liberation"
order directly forced the cabinet
upheaval. Higashi-Kuni, they said,
publicly had promised abolition of
thought police and such other
agencies as the cabinet Board Of
Information in interviews with the
japanese press-but was hamstrung
by bureaucrats and others around
him"
Gen. MacArthur's order, these
sources said. gave Higashi- an
opportunity to resign and force the
entire cabinet to follow him.
The Higashi-Kuni cabinet long
had been in a shaky internal con-
d1tion, with the breach widening
daily between its elements. At the
outset, it was known as a temporary
government aimed at handling the
delicate problems accompanying sur
render.
Higashi-Kuni, without previous
administrative experience, was ap-
pointed premier because of his i'm
perial blood. He is cousin Of
Hirohito. His administration was
marked by rising domestic criticism
of the governments failure to pur-
sue a definite policy in solving food
and housing shortages.
The japanese realize that Higashi-
Kuni was considered possible war
criminal by the Americans for his
army record and his onetime COM
mand of home defense forces.
Other Developments.
The cabinet crisis topped off other
developments which included:
Japan's Navy reported to Allied
headquarters that 20,582 naval per-
sonnet in the homelands had been
disarmed and discharged by Oc-
tober l-correcting its earlier re-
ports that $1,000 had been demobi-
lized in September. The new Navy
report said that reasons for the
error would be explained tomorrow.
Sharp tax increases have been
adopted by Japan's government for
the coming fiscal year to offset great
slumps in revenues due to termi-
nation of the war. Domei news
agency said. Prices Of government
monopoly products also will be
raised as revenue measure, Domei
reported. Among taxes going up:
Those on sake, theaters, restaurants
and entertainment spots, as well as
all property taxes.
The occupation of Sapporo, CAP
ital of Hokkaido, northernmost jap
anese home island, by the 77th
(Statue of Liberty Infantry Di-
vision.
Sixteen American soldiers and Of
flcers reached Shimonoseh at the
southeast tip of Honshu, the first
detachment to occupy the area.