Evening star., 1960-04-23
Tokyo Leftists
Protest u. s.,
Japan Treaty

TOKYO, April % CAP)-
One thousand japanese stu
dents shouting opposition to
the new United States-Japan
security treaty demonstrated in
front of the Diet (parliament)
today.
The protest rally was called
by Zengakuren, the radical left
wing students federation, ana
the League of Communists"
which have been disowned as
too militant by the Japan Com
munist party.
The students were blocked
500 yards away from the Diet
building by a wall of eight po-
lice armored cars and trucks
lined up fender = to fender
across the wide avenue leading
to parliament.
Authorities sent 5000 police
to hold of the students at
the request of both houses of
the Diet.
Police Warnings Ignored
The students sat down on
the pavement and listened to
speeches by their leaders.
Police urged them TO dis
band over a public address
system tor four hours and re-
peatedly warned they were
breaking the law by holding
an unauthorized meeting ard
obstructing traffic.
Police repeatedly warned the
speakers not to agitate the
students but made 90 attempt
to arrest or disperSe them.
At dusk, police resorted at
last to force. Using only their
hands, they pulled apart the
students still sitting tightly
clutched to each other and
singing the Internationale.
The students were showed
through a corridor of police
to the sidewalk where they
promptly sat down again.
No casualties were reported.
Force Threatened
Tension also prevailed inside
the Diet building where Prime
Minister Nobusuke Kishis Lib
eral Democrats planned emer-
gency steps to ratify the pact
in face of bitter Socialist op-
position. Diet proceedings have
been virtually paralyzed for
the past three days by the
crisis.
Government sources said
Liberal-Democratic leaders have
decided to bypass committee
discussion and present an in
terim report on the treaty to
the lower house which will be
in session until May 16.
The Socialists have announced
that if this happens, they will
use force, as they have done
to block committee discussion
by preventing the house speak
er from taking his seat and
calling the session to order.
Crisis Began Wednesday
The latest crisis erupted
Wednesday when Socialist
members walked out of a hear
ing of the security treaty COM
mittee after failing to block a
surprise Liberal Democratic
motion calling three witnesses.
Socialist determination to
prevent further hearings was
climaXed yesterday where the
Liberal Democrats attempted
to charge into the committee
room with the Liberal-Demo-
cratic committee chairman or
their shoulders. The wall oi
Socialists held them back.
Mr.. Kishi is known to want
the United States-Japan treaty
ratified before the current Diet
session ends. 1t is felt he would
suffer embarrassment if the
treaty remains unratified wher
President Eisenhower arrives
here June 19 for an official
visit.
Permits U. S. Bases
The new treaty. like the
original one concluded in 1851
permits American military
bases in Japan. But whereas the
original pact was of indefinite
duration, the new agreement is
for 10 years.
Mr.. Eisenhower. in a state
ment accompanying the treaty
signing last January. assured
Japan that Washionton would
not act contrary to japanese
wishes.
This has been widely accepted
here as assurance that the
United States, for example. will
not deploy its Japan-based
troops to Far East trouble spots
without Tokyo'S consent.
There is much Japanese con-
cern lest the stationing OF
United States forces drag this
country into a conflict in which
1t wants no part.