§ 76. Mr. Teelingasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent elections in Japan, on the recent resignation of Mr. Yoshida's Government and on the formation of the new Government; and whether he is satisfied that this new Government will do all in its power to implement the programme of reform laid down by the Allied Control Commission.
§ Mr. BevinIn the recent Japanese elections Mr. Yoshida's Conservative Party, the Democratic Liberals, obtained a clear majority. The Communist Party improved its position in the House of Representatives, mainly at the expense of the Centre Parties, and holds 35 seats out of a total of 466. Under the Japanese Constitution, the Prime Minister is elected by the Diet. Mr. Yoshida, the outgoing Premier, was re-elected the following day, and on 16th February formed a Government in which his own party holds all but four ministries.
As regards the last part of the Question, the new Government's policy has not 288W yet been announced. Mr. Yoshida stated last October that it was his aim to encourage the development of democracy in Japan. Under the present arrangements for the control of Japan, the responsibility for ensuring that every Japanese Government implements the provisions of Far Eastern Commission policy decisions rests in the hands of the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers.