Tokio, Feb. 27.
The Government Have issued the following statement on the subject of the dissolution of the Diet.
"Extension of the franchise has twice been effected and last year's revision has not yet had an opportunity of trial. "The attempt to secure a further revision this year is based upon thoughtless extreme amendments, framed without consideration for the affairs of the Empire, and it has produced a disturbing movement which is likely to constitute a menace to the present social structure. A situation has arisen which not only involves the question of an extension of the franchise but may be regarded as having a grave bearing on_ the future of the State. There is no doubt that the proposed franchise measures would be rejected by the House of Representatives, but la view of the grave character of the problem the Government have been obliged to ask the Throne for an order of dissolution of the Diet, in order to appeal to the fair and impartial judgement of the peo-The Independent and Opposition newspapers generally disapprove of the Government's action in dissolving the Diet.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.