Evening star., 1946-04-08
Peoples Front Group
Calls on Jap Premier
With Demand He Qui1
Follows Up Communist
Demonstration Which
Broke Windows in Home
BY the Associated Press

TOKYO, April 8.-With Japan's
election two days away, a 14-man
committee of the Democratic
peoples front" appeared today
before Premier Shidehara with a
demand that his cabinet resign
Immediately.
The Premier refused to enter into
argument with the delegates, stared
at the ceiling during presentation
of their case, and finally abruptly
ended the session by walking out.
The committee, claiming to rep
resent 10000 persons, called on
Shidehara as followup to yester-
days explosive left-wing demonstra-
tion in which at least 10000 Com
munist-led demonstrators swarmed
into the Premier's courtyard, broke
windows and injured eight japanese
policemen. The crowd. which was
herded quietly away from the resi-
dence by heavily United
States military police, did not ac-
company the committee today.
Rice Regulations Protested.
Three resolutions were presented
to Shidehara by the group. One
from farmers condemned the amount
OF rice provided under the COM
pulsory purchase rules; another from
labor unions opposed the announced
government plans for drafting leg.
lSlatlon to prohibit labor unions
from assuming control of industries
during strikes: the third was an
elght-point demand for the cabinet
resignation because of 'its inability
to solve the country's problems.
kyuichi Tokuda, secretary of the
communist party who led yester-
days demonstration and headed the
committee today, handed the resolu.
lions to Shidehara, discussed each
point and then insisted on an
answer from the Premier.
Shidehara, facing the sharpest
direct criticism his cabinet has re-
ceived in its six months of existence
appeared flushed and nervous but he
answered all questions calmly with
variations of this reply:
Il came here to listen to YOU. not
to argue"
Mishandling Is Charged.
The committee had argued 45
minutes before getting past secre-
tarles who demurred, declaring the
committee was not composed of the
same individuals as those promised
an interview during yesterdays
demonstration.
They crowded into the room with
reporters and Allied correspondent.
and grouped around Shidehara, who
remained seated, gazing at the cell
ing during Tokuda's s presentation O
their case.
Tokuda touched on most of tn
current japanese problems, and &C
cused the Shidehara cabinet of mis-
handling them.
He said the demonstration yes
terday was made after prior motto
to the police and that the fgh
started only because police attempt
ed to prohibit entry of the demon
strators.
i The session with Shidehara end
ed abruptly when the Premie
walked out.
Emperor Hirohito, meanwhile
called on the 100000 voters Q
Japan to take part in the elec
ton with enthusiasm and convic
ton by voting for the candidate
Of their free choice and contribut
thereby toward the establishment G
democratic Diet"
Comdr. Guy j. Swope. chief o
supreme headquarters legislativ
division, said the American Militar
Government will take no part in tn
election, beyond discovering it.
I'VE expect no trouble" the for
mer Pennsylvania Congress membe
and one-time Governor of Puert
!, Rico said.
He predicted "a greater vote thai
ever cast before in Japan"
The first practical hint of a hug
vote came from the remote villag
of Okino Shima, which set a star
tling pace by sending 86.2 per cen
OF its normally apathetic voters t.
the polls. The village voted tw'
days early because of poor com
munications. It's ballots will b
/ (see JAPAN, Page A-5J