'The -assassination of Marshal Chang Tso-lin proved to be the ever that dislodged the Cabinet, 'The Premier himself, in the docemont he handed to' the Emperor When he tendered his resignation, gave this as the reason which induced him to throw up the sponge, General Baron Tanaka declaring that "a certain affair which took Place outside the country last year was unexpectedly exploited for political purposes; something that is to be regretted in the interests of the fate as well as in those of constitutional polities.
In the circumstances, cannot but feel responsible to the Throne and respectfully tender my resigna-in." How the Premier's hand was practically foreed by the super-party Judges who still form the vigilant, unseen power behind the Japanese Throne is extremely teresting and also gives to Western eyes a glimpse of the currents that flow below the surface of the Western political system that Japan has adopted without, hower moving the purely Japanese core! that forms the heart of Japane: polities.
was unable to see eye:
with the heads of the Army ward to the Chang Tso-lin sacrifice certain minor ials in this connection. The Army resented this and, being empowered to report independently to the Throne (the Army and Navy are responsible to no ore except the Emperor), forwarded a statement which conflicted with the report submitted by the Government, The Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal took the matter up and went to seo Prince Saionji, whose mere word can make or break statesmen. the course of conversation, the blunders of the Tanaka Cabinet were categorically re-called—how the Premier had been censured by the Upper House, how he was daily more and more unpopular, of his China and finanial policies, the restiveness of the people, and' especially the careless manner in which he handled matters concerning the prerogatives of the Emperor.
Down on the table came the fist of the octogenarian Prince Saionj "That's enough! said the Gento, and the death sentence on the Tanaka Ministry, an irrevocable one, had been pronounced. Prince Saionji is compared to the mythical eat-fish, which seeming] apathetic and non-committal, until it' moves, and, when it' does, esta! and we have an earth: quake. The power of the Genro, as this incident once again proves, fax from mythical, for the older influences have not been swept off the board, even though Japan has courageously accepted the experi ment of democracy, and against hi verdict, which may take years to come, there is absolutely no appeal The public have ever accepted this: officialdom fully understands if.
There was nothing else for Baron Tanaka to do than submit resignation. He bowed before the storm and did so with quick military precision. The Emperor, accepted his resignation and commanded Mr. Yuko i, leader of the Minseito (the principal Opposition party and now. the Government party) to_ take' charge, at the same time ordering Baron' Tanaka to remain at the helm" until" Me. "Hamaguchi had made the necessary arrangements This was done. in under. eight hours—a record for Japan and for many another country—and everything "went through with such smoothness that, except. for very. slight ripples, the change of Government didn't "have any. marked effect on the stock and exchange market.
In' the interval between the Premier submitting his resignation and Mr, Hamaguchi being summon-to the Palace, the Minseito spent} fame very anxious hours. Rumours} spread fast, far and wide that some of the "near-the-Throne" statesmen were desirous of securing political stability at any cost and had counselled the Genro to recommend to the Emperor the formation of a super-party, a stopgap Cabinet. Prince Saion{i listen-fed. patiently to their' arguments, but "ruled that these were not agent enough to. interfere. with constitutional politics, and declared that the normal course of events should be followed.
Tay Parting Shot The first ation that Afr, Hamaguchi was to form the next istry comte when a Court cham: berlain telephoned to Mr. Ham: puchi, commanding his presence at the Imperial Palace. Soon the residence of Mr. number of pressmen also thro the oMeial Tanaka, Mr. Hamaguchi, who fs a very taciturn man, had nothing to tell the reporters except that he was "naturally very pleased. Baron Tanaka, however, who, during his tenure of office for two months, had been subject to many vexations at the hands of this country's reporters-—in Japan, if reporters cannot get something worth printing, they try their be to get the goat" of a statesman, working on the theory that, if he
military they have a capital "news story" £0} tosses his temper and explodes, simply could not resist the temptation of having a parting shot and the last word.
"Gracious me!" said the Premier. in bantering tones, "Are you children still here, still desirous of persecuting mo? Want to have a last snap at my heels, eh? Wel have it! What's that? My impressions on resigning? Well, T feel indescribably relieved that shall no longer be tormented by the likes of you—that, at least, is mothing gained!" And, just a minute, you might add that, this suumer, I shall have the joy and comfort of spending the rt weather in some cool an spot, instead of being chai to my desk in dusty, broiling, busy
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.