The Hokitika Guardian THURSDAY, NOV. 10th, 1921. JAPAN’S PREMIER.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 November 1921, Page 2

The Hokitika Guardian THURSDAY, NOV. 10th, 1921. JAPAN’S PREMIER.

Tun assassination of Japan’s Prime .Minister, Mr Takashi Ilara, removed from the stage of world politics one of the great personages who have helped to mould Japanese policy in recent years, but one concerning whom curiously little is known to the outside world. Atr Takashi Hara took office us Premier of Japan on September 30th 1918. He was the first “commoner” Premier previous holders of the ottice having been of the Peerage. He was born at MUrioka in the prefecture ~f lwate, ii.i 1854, and, as a youth,

ho studiod at the now defunct haw Col lege ;iml tin* Foreign Language S<*lioul Imt left before graduating. Hu lh**u took to journalism, mid was on the staff of the “Hoihi yhimHun'’ in the I‘jijly "eighties.” Later k<‘ entered tin* Consular service, and was :i], jrointcd Consul at Tientsin. In 188(i he was promoted Secretary to the Japanese Legation in Paris, and s*; li~<*<) 11 i*il 11 y became Charge d’Allaires there. On returning to Japan In* wii- appointed personal secretary to th*' M:::i|iiis 1 oooye. .Minister of AgriciiP. nc and lie continued ids seen*. tarihl duties under Count .Matsu, who held that portlolio from 18PI) to 18b.Mi llara then • *nt chief to the l*'iueign Olliee. and vas appoint, d Director of the Commereial Itui' su. In 18!Id he became Vi.-e-Miuistn for Fur<*ign A fFiiiis. and in tin* following yeai was appointed Minister to Korea, which post hi* resigned to U'eome vliiei editor of the Osaka “Manichi Shimlmn” He was one of the chief supporters ot the late Prince Ito. who founded the S'eiytt-kai Party in August IhOO. 11l the fourth Ito Cabinet, Mr Halil was appointed Minister of Communications, and. on the fall of the Ministry in May. inOl. lie became editor of the Osaka ‘■Shinipo”. In dannary. lilOfi. he was appointed Minister <*f Home Affairs in the first Saionji Cabinet. The Ministry was defeated in 1008. and Mr Mara then paid visits to Knrope and America. When the Mari|iiis Saionji formed his second Cabinet in 1011. Mr Ultra, again took the porlnlio of Home Affairs, as well as Presidency of the Railways Hoard. He was also Minister of Home Affairs in the Cilbinet of Admiral Vatnnmoto in 101.'1-1 I. On the full of Hu* Cabinet of Field-M•n'shal Teraurhi in 1018. Mr Mara was eonnnisshmed to form a Ministry and so boeame Japan's first Commoner Premier. Mr Marti had been leader o| the Seiv'ikai since the death of the AFarqnis Saionji. So far as can he gleaned from his actions the late Prime Minister was useful to his party more tnrongh his diplomatic gifts and his g.'inus for conciliation than for any aggressive lighting qualities. When six months ijtrO the Ham G-ovornnu'nt as msule the subject, of a hitter attack by Konsokai. or Opposition, led hy Tokitoslii Taketotni on the grounds that the people had no confidence in the < Inventuient. that the foreign policy had disgraced Japan abroad, and that the domestic policy was an utter failure, Mr Mara’s reply was mildness itse'f. He not only promised to withdraw troops from Siberia and to modifv the harsh measures of repression list'd in Korea, hut indicated that these things had already been ordered. Observers of Far Eastern polities have alleged that then* are really three governments in Japan- the Cabinet, the Militarists and the Capitalists, and the last two, who are generally in comhintiti m. overrule any Cabinet. If this he the ca*v the death of Mara or any other Japanese statesman is not likely to have iniieh influence on the course of Japanese policy, particularly in matters of armament, ■fwww nr—*—»—■nmv xtn