Tokio, March 14, Perhaps none of the men in touch with current events in Japan' and abroad can speak with higher authority, or as representing more capably the opinions of those who know public sentiment in Japan than Baron Takahashi, leading member of the Opposition in the House of Peers and former Minister of Finance, Governor of the Bank of Japan and President of the Yokohama Specie Bank. His views on the subject of the agitation against the AngloJapanese Alliange are particularly interesting, because, as is well known, he has been one of the most stalwart opponents of the present Government's foreign policies. When asked to give his views, Baron Takahashi said "The leading men of this country—the men of all classes, occupations oF ical leanings are in sympathy with Great Britain and the Allies. A con-sen sun of the well-balanced opinion of the Empire will show the whole people to be in perfect accord as upholding the AngloJupanese Alliance. This is true in political, social, educational and economic circles There fact, no real division of can see how difficult it is for foreignerx to understand why the Press agitation on the subject of the Alliance commenced and kept up for some Tt must be borne in mind that competence of the present Govern-deal with foreign policies and diplomatic affairs has been seriously questioned by the Opposition. Hence, the Opposition press has sought to em. barraas the majority during this session of the Dist and to draw sympathy by appeals to prejudice. The Opposition press and, indeed, many of the members fof the Opposition have gone so far na openly to assert that Baron Kato, th former Minister for Foreign Affairs and the leader of the Government supporters in the Inst Diet: s completely under the tary to Sir Edward Gi speaker said. Now, if this is said in the Diet, and the dependence of Baron Kato upon Rritish influence is popularly believed, it gives the Press a peg on which to base attack. Hence, in this acute state of public opinion, it is not difficult to understand how sri opportunist cry may secre a vogue for short time.
"I am a member of the ition. T doubt the competence and the ability of the present Ministry and believe the country could do better, but the loyalty of Japan to Great Britain and the Anglo-Japmoese Alliance is og fixed as any
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.