As regards Siberia, the Government's policy was offence rather than failure." He contended that the troops should have been withdrawn on the withdrawal of the Czechs, or increased to overcome the Bolshevik elements. An early settlement of the California question was impossible. Provided the negotiations were conducted in the friendliest spirit, the Japanese demands could; he asserted, be insisted upon without aggravating the situation.
The Kokuminto favoured a thorough-going programme of internal reform, the curtailment of military expenditure, and the development of industrial power, contending that "the deciding factor lies in the superiority of industrial power and national wealth, and no longer in the superiority of arms,"—Reuter.
The Country's Foreign Relations:
Mr. Hara's Views on California and Chientao Tokio, Jan. 22.
The Diet met to-day. The Premier, Mr. Hara, *in the course of his opening speech, said:
"As regards the country's foreign relations, I am happy to say that we are on good terms with all foreign countries. It is true that there are now, as at other times, some questions pending, such as the Californian and Chientao questions. In the case of the Californian, question, however. the authorities concerned, both in
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.