Readers will remember the attempt made by a certain Court faction in Japan last February to break off the Crown Prince's engaement to Princess Nagako, daughter of Prince and Princess Kuni. It was variously spoken of as a case of offended pride on the part of the old Kioto noble families, who had usually provided the heir apparent with a bride; of a struggle for pre-eminence between the Choshiu and Satsuma clans; of the old regime contending against the liberalizing tendencies of the age. The fact that Prince Yamagata, President of the Privy Council, was at the back of the movement against Princess Nagako, gave to the last explanation a special appearance of reality. The engagement was not broken off; Prince Yamagata's agent, the Minister of the Household, fell; and the aged field-marshal sent in his resignation. It was never accepted, however, and now an interesting message from the Eastern News Agency indicates that it is to be withdrawn. There Was a rumour, we are told, that the Government was about to pray the Emperor to invite the President of the Council to withdraw his resignation. But for ° this course, says the message, there is no precedent. Such invitations have, in time past, been sent, but entirely as a matter of Imperial clemency unprompted by anybody else. The telegram then becomes a little confused, but two facts emerge from it quite clearly: first, that Mr, Hara, the Prime Miniter, did petition the Throne in Prince Yamagata's behalf; secondly, that although no attention is paid to this petition, Prince Yamagata is none the less being invited to withdraw his resignation. The effect of his restoration to power upon the statecraft of Japan cannot, of course, be estimated now.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.