Tokio, Jan. 23.
At the opening of the session of the Imperil Diet to-day, the Premier Baron Kato, speaking on the! administrative policy of the Government, made a statement, in part, as follows It is a matter for congratulation that, our relations with: other couniries are steadily growing in cordiality and this country is acting in concert with other Powers with a view to establishing lasting peace. The political situation in Europe is yet unhappily far from being settled but in the Far East affairs have recently improved. Conditions in Russia have shown gradual] improvement and in the Far Eastern Russia the political situation has tended likewise towards stabilization. Accordingly, we have withdrawn our troops from Siberia and North Manchuria, completing the withdrawal by the end of October last.
With regard to China, I do not doubt that this termination of 2 difficult question - (the. Shantung agreement) will add greatly to the improvement in our relations but it is a matter for deep regret that the political situation in China lacking in stability and it is an earnest hope of the Japanese Government that China will at the earliest possible moment and) through efforts of her own people achieve tranquillity and find a road to healthy progress. As regards the Treaty for the limitation of naval armaments signed at the Washington Conference, Japan has proceeded towards putting its pro visions into effect, thus demonstrate. ing her sincerity of purpose.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.