Lhe Emperor in person opened the Diet on the 25th instant, at eleven o'clock in the forenoon. Marquis Ito was in attendance, and his Majesty, receiving the Speech from the Premier's hand, read it as follows "We declare the Imperial Diet opened and announce to the members of both Houses "That we are pleased to be able to state that Our relations with foreign Powers are on a footing of constantly increasing friendship.
Phot on the occurrence of the lamentable disturbance in North China, Wo caused to be despatched thither a naval and military force for the purpose of res~ ning Our Representative, Our subjects, and the nations of other countries, It ism matter of profound satisfaction to Us that Our fores, acting in concert with those of other owes, displayed loyalty and tvavory in: the discharge of their task, Oar Goverment, in ed-operation with the Powers, is naw endeavouring to restore woud order in China and to obtain quaranters fr future peace.
"That for the purpose of defraying the military outlays of the State as well as of placing its Gnxne=s on a sound base, We have directed Our Ministers of State to prepare a project of increased taxation which will be submitted to you together with the Budyet for the 34th fiscal year and various drafts of law.
"That it sour desire that, acting in a spirit of harmonious ce-operation, you should bring to the discharge of your important duties all necessary attention and care."
It will be seen from the above that the Ministry has definitively announced its determination of having recourse to increated taxation. The Seiyu-kai has not yet come to any decision on this question, but the strong probability is that it will endorse the Government's policy.
The House of Representatives subs quently assembled, and passed a resulution entrusting to the President the duty of preparing a reply to the Speech from the Throne. The President therefore pre~ sented the following "With profound respect we beg to express our deep gratitude for Your jesty's gracious action in opening the Imperial Diet and for the words addressed to us by Your Majesty. It shill be our endeavour, at this period when the nation is confronted by so many duties in the Far East, to bring to the discharge of our lexislative functions the utmost care and circumspection, so that Your Majesty's august instructions may be obeyed and the import-aut trust reposed in us by the nation may be fully discharged. With profound respect and humility the President of the House of Representatives, Kataoka Kenkichi, presents this,"—' Japan Daily Mail," 27th Desember.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.