"The "Back-Alley Ministry": Street Corner Lectures on Thrift:
The Ghost of Chang Tso-lin: Society to Study Eastern Problems Fox Our Own Tokyo, July 12.
The Japanese have a knack of nick-naming all their Ministries. The Tanaka Mi had a number of cognomens. It called the Die y," the "Positive Policy and even the "Militarist" these names being bestowed either by way of ridicule or disapprobation of its policies. The new Hamaguchi Government, whose slogan is strict economy, has been termed the "Back Alley Ministry and the name is not ill-fitting, f strange to say, by a curious coincidence, all the members of the new Cabinet live in modest homes Imperial Decree issued on November 10, 1928, which provided that no reprimand or punishment shall be nited out to any soldier or sailor for any events that occurred in China before that date.
One of the officers punished by being placed on the waiting list made a speech last week which considerably embarrassed the authorities, both military and civil, This swas Colonel Daisaku Kawamots. formerly a staff officer of the Kuantung Garrison. He pre-facyd his speech by saying that, after the reprimand administered to him, he ought to maintain a stoical and dignified silence, but located in back-alleys, in glaring contrast to the mansions in which that he could not very well do 20 "when [think of the real condi-dwelt the members of the Tanaka Cabinet—nearly every one of whom was well-to-do, The new Premier has arranged that every member of the Cabinet, Jed by the Finance Minister, Mr. Junnosuké Inopyé, shall "make corner orations, urging the to practise the virtues of thrift and economy. This will be done regardless of the pitiless heat of summer, and the gesture is counted upon to rivet the attention of the people on the necessity for effecting drastic economies every possible direction, if, as the Finance Minister puts it, the national finances are to be properly. rehabilitated. The Finance Mini ter has told the press that the people must be prepared for a period of depression but he believes that, if luxury and extravagance are rigidly eschewed, better and more prosperous times are sure to dawn, tions new prevalent in Manchuria ud Mongolis Colonel Kawamoto then Inunched to the Russo-Japanese war and enumerated the sacrifices Japan had made to secure the privileged position she claims in Manchuria and Mongolia and the vast amount she has invested in those "The proper way to protect Manchuria and Mongol to extend our legiti to crush the military clique in Manchuria. To do this would be child's play for us." Colonet Kawamoto specially singled out Chang Tso-lin as the impediment Japan's way and gave a large number of instances where the late Mukden generalissimo was alleged to have put obstacles in Japan's way and to have embarrassed Japan, Tokyo's Police Commissioners Mz. Hamaguchi, nick-named the "Lion," is a. lion when it comes to work. He is in his official residence every day before 10 a.m. and 1d Worke until 8 or 9 every evening. The happy cigarette-puffing, toa-drinking days of small talk have vanished in the Government departments, the press says, and employees apply themselves' more assiduously to work "and to muttered supplications that the axe of retrenchment may not fall across their sun-burnt necks."
The Police Commissioners of Tokyo are appointed by whatever Party happens to be in power, and, as there is a distinct relation between the political parties and the incumbent of such office, the Chief of Police automatically has to resign when the party to which he belongs loses administrative power. The last Chief of Police, Mr. Nagaoka, assumed duty on June 26, having been appointed in succession to Mr. Miyata, who is alleged to have been involved in some exten-
The Clang Tso-lin Assai ination The ghost of Chang Tso-lin ce tinues to haunt Japan's domest polities. When the Tanaka Goyernment resigned, it announced that this matter had been disposed of, but, far. from such being the case, the mysterious: incident still holds the spotlight in' Japanese domestic politics. "Baron Tanaka's plan was to mete out punishment to a few Army officers, but the Army is countering by declaring that such, action violates the sive graft. On assuming office. Mr. Nagaoka's first consideration was to attire himself in the gorgeous uniform of a Chief of the Metropolitan Police, which the holder of this post has to furnish for himself. A tailor measured him a helmet-maker took his size, boot-makers were called in, ahd the impressive uniform and accompany. ing accoutrements were delivered two days later, with a bill for 500. Some 48 hours later, the Tanaka Cabinet collapsed, and Mr. Nagaoka had to bid farewell to
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.