While in England, he diligently studied' the ways of British dip-Jomats who, he maintained, had brought diplomacy to the range of a fine art. In fact, so English did Kato become, that' this was made occasion time and again, to poke fun at. him, his political enemies: insisting—as though it were a readful_ shame—that Kato was more English than Japanese. any rate, Viscount Kato always spoke highly of England and often Fomarked that, if it became necessary for him'to leave Japan and settle down elsewhere, he could not think of a better place than a country house in Devon. The fo eign portion of his residence—well-to-do Japanese live in dual style—was set in an English mould, Most travelled Japanese who can afford it, generally gain for American decorations and American motive in the home. In this respect, Viscount Kato was a striking exception.
Kato has held portfolios befor the first time in 1900 shen he was Minister for Foreign Affairs in the fourth ministry organized by: the ate Count Ito. He was then in his forties and enjoyed the distinction of being the youngest foreign minister Japan ever had. He became a popular figure, in fact a popular idol—until, in 1906, he fought strenuously' against a. bill brought by the then Liberal Party for the nationalization of the rai ways. The Cabinet was divided and Kato held what was tan-amount to the casting vote. But he refused to budge from his' position, and the public accused him of catering to the Iwasakis, preferring the interests of the family with' which he was connected by marriage to those of the Empire. The popular outery became so clamourous that he was forced to resign.
He then went into the newspaper game, but this turned out to be a hollow failure. He withdrew into obscurity and, after a comparative-long retirement from the fierce Tight of party polities, he was offered and accepted adorship to Great Brit had served with credit before Minister Plenipotentiary.
'A Chequered Period
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.