Tokyo, Feb, 22.
Alleging that international espionage rampant ju Japan, the Government to-day: Introduced a bill amending the Present Military Secrets Act, similar measure submitted to the Diet by the former Hirota Cabinet failed to pass as st encountered bitter opposition on the grounds that it would further restrict the already curtailed Guarantees of a free press and of freedom of speech provided In the Constitution.
The Army claims that the forty-year-old statute Is antiquated and InsumMelent. to safeguard military secret which are vitally Important for. national defence.
The Navy 1s secking the passage of the bill 50 as to be able to close to foreign vessels certain territorial water zones of strategic importance.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.