Premier's Speech: Good Relations with China: Quadruple Entente Welcomed: Economies Dee Tokio, Jan. 21.
The first regular session of the Diet was held this morning when the Premier delivered a speech. In genera] terms he referred to the new conditions as a result of the aftermath of the war and also result of the Washington Conf ence which, he said, greatly added to the responsibilities of Japan in her relations with other Powers. These relations, however, were becoming increasingly cordial.- Referring to China, the Premier said that the Japanese Government desired only good relations and had directed its delegates in Washington to use every endeavour to evince goodwill.
The Premier welcomed the Quad-rupie Entente_as the concrete outcome of the Conference, and said the limitation of armaments now in sight would enable the Government to devote the surplus to dovelopmont of education, industry, commerce, and communications. A commission was now investigating the question of taxation in order, as far as possible, to believe the burden of the people.
He hoped conditions in Siberia would be sufficiently stabilized to enable Japan entirely to withdraw her forees. The Government was now negotiating for a renewal of trade relations. The Premier said that in finance the utmost economy would he practised throughout the period of readjustment to new conditions. Appropriations would be reduced to neerssities consonant with the maintenance of Japan's enhanced world position.—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.