RIOTING IN TOKIO

Evening Post, Volume LXXXV, Issue 36, 12 February 1913, Page 2

RIOTING IN TOKIO

POLITICAL CRISIS .VOTE OF CENSURE ON PRIME MINISTER, i . MILITARY CALLED OUT. By telegraph.— Press Association.— Copyright. TOKIO, 11th February. The excitement in connection with the political crisis following the vote of censure by the Diet on the Premier, Prince Katsura, and the immediate adjournment of the Diet by an. Imperial rescript, , has led to much disturbance in t&e city. . > j The Mikado,. -.in a furthei rescript, has ordered the Marquis Saionji to try to alleviate the situation in the direction of tlie abandonment .of" the vote of censure on the -Government. Two members of the late Cabinet favour compliance, but tho others are unwilling to compromise. • - . A crowd surrounded,, the Diet, and cheered the arrival of the Oppositioniste, who were wearing white roses, while it hooted the Ministerialists. The police made repeated charges, and fifteen persons were injured. A rescript has been issued suspending the sitting of -the Diet for three days. Dense crowds assembled, and the police became unable; to cope with the situation, so that "the military had to be summoned. Stone-throwing occurred, and A renewal of • th» melee followed. The .rioters attacked a newspaper office,.' and the staff replied , with revolvere, a rioter being killed*. ■ The mob then looted the oil-shops, and soaked straw ' in - oil, which was thrown into the newspaper offices: • The, offices are in consequence now guarded. The military charged with drawn' swords, and the mob was scattered in sections. Rioting then took place fur-| ther afield, .and was accompanied by the burning of trafflcars and the wreck-! ing -of police stations. , An armed force protected Prince Kat-' sura's residence. CABINET SITTING. I PREMIER'S RESDDENCE STRONGLY GUARDED.' (Received February 12, "9 a.m.) TOKIO, Uth February. Rioting continued until the early morning, when intense cold caused the crowd to disperse.. ' Cabinet is sitting. The Premier's residence is strongly guarded. CABINET RESIGNS. (Received February 12, 11 a.m.) . 4 TOKIO, 11th February. The Cabinet has resigned. Mr. Yamamoto , becomes Premier; Barori Kato remains at . the Foreign Office. * > The streets are quiet, and the patrols have been withdrawn. - . i STRONG CONDEMNATION OF ' *HE BUREAUCRATS. On the 17th December) after the formal opeflihg of the Diet, the first social meeting 'of the' Constitution Protection League was held at the Seiyoken Hotel, Tsukiji, Tokid (Says the Japanese Chronicle). There were present over 250 gentlemen, including "a lacge number, of members of the Diet, of different political parties, members of Various 'Oppc^ sition parties, outside. ;th_& J)jet, and journalists. i - -' i Speaking on behalf 'of the promoters of the hieeting,-Mr\'Seki, Vice-President of the Lower House (Who isa Nationalist), said that national feeling against the bureaucracy xvai I'unning extremely .high, and at the present moment the object of the league could be readily attained. The speaker pointed out that there were signs that certain influence was being brought to bear by the bureaucrats xvith the object of sowing seeds df dissension among the Opposition members of the Diet. The speaker there(forß( forB warned his hearers to be cautious. The following resolution was carried : —"That this league, for the purpose of stirring up national opinion to bring about the defeat of the bureaucrats and thus protect the Constitution, shall consult with sympathisers in all part* of the country, and arrange .to hold a great mass meeting of people of all shades of political vfe,wa who are opposed to the' | bureaucracy. In the event of the Diet being dissolved, this league pledges itself to assist those members of the Diet who take part in 1 the mass meeting to be called to be re-elected."