TOKYO Early results from yesterday's Japanese general elections showed firm endorsement of the government policies on the US-Japan Security Treaty and close diplomatic and economic association with the West — and rejection of neutralism. Former prime minister Nobosuke Kishi, who resigned after the political troubles that occurred last June, was re-elected and so was his successor Hayuato Ikeda. The governing Liberal Democratic Party had won 145 seats against 69 of the Socialists after almost half of the election results were known.

Two leaders of the ruling party also appeared certain of wining. They were Kenzo Matsumura, leader of a powerful faction within the party, of Toyama prefecture, and Mastsutaro Shoriki, owner of the giant Yomiuri newspaper, in the same district. As the counting continued and returns began to come in from areas bordering the larger urban centres, the Socialists rallied. But the Liberal Democrats maintained an imposing advance and seemed certain to keep their overwhelming majority of at least two-thirds in the next Diet.

Eight hours after the polls closed, the Liberal Democrats and the Socialists had registered gains at the expense of the recently formed middle-of-the-road Social Democratic Party.

One of the surprises in today's election was the drop in public interest — and voting — since the post-War record turnout of almost 77 per cent of the electorate in May 1958. This time only about 72 to 74 per cent of the electorate went to the polls. Japanese commentators blamed this decline in interest on two main factors; sunny weather which encouraged many to skip the election in favour of a Sunday outing and widespread failures to understand fully the main points at issue in the election.

Racist Russia?

LONDON Allegations of colour discrimination in the Soviet Union were made here yesterday by three African students — A.R. Amar from Uganda, T.U.C. Okonkwo from Nigeria and Benjamin Omburo from Kenya. The first two have returned to London after completing courses of studies in Moscow.

They said that they and other African students in the Soviet Union had been victims of violent discrimination. They asserted that African students had been beaten up without provocation — both by fellow students and by the Russian police.