Tokyo, Feb. 24.
The circumstances leading to the presentation of the highly controvert sial National Mobilization Bill to the Diet; was explained this afternoon in the Lower House by Mr. Koki Hirota, Foreign Minister, on behalf of Prince Konbye, the Premier, who is indisposed. t The Bill Mr. Hirota. declared, would "enable the effective attain-mani of the Government's objective in time of war through the concerted assistance of the entire nation."
Mr. Takao Saito, an authority on the Japanese Constitution, declared that the measure was devised to inflict serious restrictions in tinto of war on ghe lives, properties and liberties of the Japanese nation."
Warning Uttered i Therefore, he said, a very prudent examination was necessary, especially to discover whether the bill conflicted with the operation of "the Constitution, notably Article XXXV.
Once the-Bill was passed, Mr. Saito emphasized, national mobiliza-fiom could be enforced by ordinance, &nd no intervention from the Diet would be permitted.
Mr. Saito warned the Government not to act arbitrarily.
Mr. Taki, President of the Planning. Board, was proceeding to the rostrum to reply on behalf of the Government when an outcry arose from members who demanded that a Saito.
State Minister. should answer
The up-roar was such that the sitting had to be suspended.—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.