The reports from Tokyo revealing the increased tension between the two great political parties in the Japanese Diet, the Seiyukai and the Minseito, and the Government arise out of the formers' opposition to the Government's bill for the general mobilization of the Japanese nation in the event of war. The attitude taken by the two parties is in direct opposition to the principles underlying the Bill, and it is claimed by them that some of its provision are completely contrary to the provisions of the Constitution, Speaking in the Diet recently on the subject Mr, Takao Saito questioned the necessity for legislation restricting' the people's right to existence, and contended that the legislation submitted to the Diet seemed contrary to the spirit of the Constitution, He insisted that there were reactionaries in Japan who wanted strong laws that would tend to alter the Constitution, and he alleged that the underlying implications of the mobilization Bill needed to be studied very carefully." At the same time he uttered a warning against excessive anxiety to imitate the foreign practice of controlling everything which was apt to hamper the people's loyalty and patriotism. Mr. Ryozo Makino insisted that the bill represented a scheme to oblige the people to entrust to the Government their lives, property and everything necessary for national defence. It disregarded patriotism and the national spirit and attempted to invalidate Imperial: prerogatives. The various interpellaters who have been manifesting their disapproval of the Bill in the Diet have carefully refrained from commenting upon the Japanese policy in the Far East, to avoid arousing suspicion that they were not patriotic Japanese on the one hand, and to give no ground for unpleasant propaganda abroad on the other. There is little doubt that civil political opinion in Japan is becomingly increasingly anxious regarding Japanese military commitments in China. It is opposed to the policies of the military group and advocates a policy of greater moderation. The only method by which they can make their influence felt in the counsels of the nation at the present time is by stubborn resistance to the mobilization bill, and for some time now the various sessions of the Diet have witnessed. the difficult rearguard fight which the two great parties are' putting up in order to prevent the passage of the Bill into law. It is clear from what has been published that the Seiyukai and vie Minseito leaders envisage the possibility should the measure become law, of the military and naval cliques seizing complete control in the event of war, and the suspension, if not entire abrogation of constitutional rights to. which the Japanese civilians attach such great importance, It is naturally feared that if ever a war were permitted to establish the Army and the Navy firmly in the saddle of government,—even though it were only a wartime measure—it would lead to the establishment of a completely totalitarian state and the submersion of the democratic ideals of the Japanese who see as a consequence the destruction of their constitutional liberties and the subjection of the whole nation to the wishes and policies of the two services. Some doubt has been expressed as to whether, owing to the opposition which is being offered to the measure it will become law before the end of this month. Should the civilian parties succeed in preventing the passage of the Bill, other and very far-reaching developments may be expected in Japan, for it is not to be believed for one moment that the Army and Navy will readily accept such a reverse without striking back one way or another.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.