SATO CABINET BARS YOUTHS FROM VISITING CHINA
'. The passport applications of 39 youths who wanted to visit: the People's Republic of China were unanimously rejected at a cabinet, ‘meeting of the Japanese government September 20.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Kiichi Aichi tola the press ‘that the decision had been made in view of the "greatly aggressive and revoluticnary" nature of this year's Youth Exchange Program. He cited the New China News “Agency which said that the Red Guards: were "enthusiastically" preparing to participate in the program and to welcome the visitors with an "aggressive" spirit. He also said that some of the youths who had participated in the exchange. last year are "now actively engaged in antigovernment activities."
It seems dubious that the real reasons for the decision were those released to the press. It. is to be noted that although it was a question of only 39 youths, the decision to block their trip was taken at the very highest government level and in a quite ostentatious manner. ‘Thus | in all likelihood a | diplomatic move was involved. Oo Hi = The Japanese government has been inching: toward a relaxation of relations with China. This policy may now be suspended or even reversed until the dust raised by the “cultural revolution" in China dies down. ,
The Japan Socialist party at once issued a statement pro-. testing the government ban on the student tour. Describing the government dction as "utterly groundless" and "a flagrant violation of the passport law and the constitution," the statement. went on to score the Sato administration as having shown once again that it is‘ "hostile toward. Communist China." The party promised "all-out efforts" to pressure the government into reversing its decision.