JAPAN’S PREMIER

Hokitika Guardian, 19 May 1932, Page 6

JAPAN’S PREMIER

AN ABLE POLITICIAN

Mr Ki Inukai, the' Japanese Premier and statesman, whose brutal murder was recorded in the cables on Tuesday, was 77 years >of age: He entered polities an early age, and was editor of the “Hochi* Shimbun” Until '.he establi'hment of the Imperial Diet in 1890. He then held an influential position in the Second Chamber because of his gifts as' a speaker' and his political ability. In the Okuma-Itagaki Cabinet of 18S8 he was for a time Minister for Education. He became leader of the third party which sprang from tho old Progressive Party of Okuma, a,nd which after 1900 '■ ES called the ,Kokuinin-to. In 1822 it v as. dissolved, and with the accession of independent deputies, re-organised to form the Iva-ku-shin (Reform) Club. This group-- was .mot '■ strong numerically, but was very influential, for it often held the balance between the two main parties. It was merged in the Seiyu-kai (Conservative) Party in 19?5. Mr Inukai became its president in 1929 as successor to the late G. Tanaka. In 1924 he had as Minister for Communications joined th e Cabinet f ormed by Baron Ivato, leadee of the Kensei-kai. In November, 1931, , tension arose in the Wakatsuki .Cfb:- -. e t. There was a conflict between the Foreign and War Offices over Manchuria and other causes of di"satisfaction were the practical cessation of trade with China and the Government’s failure to maintain its i:Onborrowing policy. In December the Cabinet resigned, and Mr Tnukai formed a Government drawn entirJ.V from his own party, in which his son-in-law’, Yoshizawa, Ambassador in Paris, became Foreign Minister. Its policy was to maintain lull protection for Japan’s interests in Manchiuia, where, it was declared. Japan had no territorial aims, and where she favoured an “open door’ for all. The Inukai Government could not command a majority in the Diet, and a dissolution was forced on January 21st of this year. On February ,23rd- however, a General Election gave the Party a substantial majority, the result being’ Conservatives 303, Liberals lib.