The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-11-30
Reports of Bitter Feeling and
Warlike Preparation
Exaggerated.
AFTER THE COUNT ITO CABINET.
Members of the Opposition Tempo.
rarily Defeated by an Unex.
pected Movement.

TOXIC, JAPAN, Nov. 16.-The statement
that Japan intends to Immediately with
draw all her troops from Korea has been
semi-otficially denied. There is no ques-
ton of withdrawing all the troops. A GER
tain force must be retained in the PENN
sula for the protection of the legation and
consulates, and to assist in preserving
public peace and good order until the
bodies of Korean police and troops, now
being organized and trained according to
Western methods, shall have acquired
competence to discharge that function
without foreign aid. The troops to be
withdrawn are those hitherto employed
for purely military purposes, that is to say,
for preserving the Geographic and COM
missariat lines from Korea to Japan's po-
sitions in Manchuria, which positions
being now on the verge of rendition to
China, there ceases to be any occasion for
maintaining communication with them
through Korea.
1t is a mistake to imagine, as many
European and American journals do, that
Japan is imbued with bitter wrath against
Russia and is increasing her military and
of flying at the northern powers throat
as soon as she feels strong enough to do
so. The fact is that, although the newt
able antagonism between Japan and Rus
STA has been emphasized by the events of
the present year, Russia's conduct has not
offered any strong Indictment to japanese
anger. Japan is not so unreasonable as to
become enraged because a foreign State
insists upon asserting its manifest inter
ests. If there are any solid reasons for
Japan's objection to Russian occupation
of Korea, there are equally solid reasons
for Russia's objection to a Japanese occu-
patton of Manchuria. Either contingency
would place a warlike and aggressive peo-
pie within striking distance OF one of the
others borders, and both States are mani
festly justified in making every effort to
avert such a danger.
Thus Japan, approaching Russia's mo-
tives, is not exasperated by the course that
the ST. Petersburg statesmen have pur-
sued, especially since it has been marked
by perhaps as much courtesy and forbear-
ance as was possible under the oircum-
stances. Germanv's action it was that
really exasperated Japan, for no German
interests were directly concerned and the
procedure taken at Berlin meant simply
that Japan war sacrificed on the altar of
European politics.
There is considerable political uneasiness
in Japan at present. Now that the conven-
ton relating to the rendition of the Lao
tung peninsula has been concluded and
no foreign issues of pressing Importance
remain to be Immediately settled the oppo-
sition find the public more disposed to lis
ten to their arraignment of the Cabinet
Ministers than was recently the case.
Whether the latter in demanding cessions
of Manchurian territory asked for more
than they could hope to retain, or whether
they did not make sufficient efforts to re-
tain what they mad asked for, they are GER
tainly open to the charge of having ex-
posed the nation to a grievous humiliation
in the hour of victory.
The Ito Cabinet shows a strong DISPOSE
tian to respect this theory by retiring from
Office, and pourparlers have been for some
time going on with the object of organic
ing new Cabinet, in which Count Mats
ukata, who from the first objected to any
demand for territory in Manchuria, and
Count Okuma, the head and front of the
parties opposed to the Government, should
occupy leading places. But just as an ar
rangement seemed to be coming within
sight the situation has been complicated
by an evident resolution on the part of the
strongest political association in the coun-
try to throw in its lot with the present
Cabinet. No japanese statesmen have
ever commanded the avowed support of
an important party in the House of Rep
resentatives, and if the Ito Cabinet, by
remaining in Office. can bring about the
Inauguration of that very wholesome
feature of constitutional government they
will hesitate to resign their portfolios.
Hence it is impossible at the moment to
predict anything definite. But there is a
general feeling either that a RECONSTRUCT
ton OF the Cabinet will take place or that
an event will occur hitherto unprecedent-
ed, namely, an open coalition between the
Government and great political party.
The meeting of the japanese Diet, which
generally occurs in the latter days of
November, will not take place this year
until the 25th of December. The delay is
due to difficulty in preparing Government
bills for military and naval development.
The War Office authorities elaborated at
the outset a programme too extensive to
receive the Governments Endorsement
and the work of recasting involved delay.
Meeting on Christmas day the Diet
viii rise almost imme diately for the New
Years recess, but the standing commit
tees will remain in session, and as the law
OF the houses provides that the budget
committee shall present its report within
fifteen days after receiving the draft esti-
mates it will be possible for the lower
house to proceed to the debate imme-
diately on reassembling January 10) after
New Years. The public awaits the issue
of the estimates with great Impotence, as
they will show exactly what standard of
military and naval development the Gov
eminent considers to be within the capacity
of the national resources.
The funeral of Prince Kitashirakawa,
colonel of the Imperial Guards, took place
on November IL. 1t was a very imposing
affair, the cortege requiring nearly an
hour and half to pass gwen point. No
foreigner joined the procession, members
OF the foreign corps diplomatique and
other Western friends or acquaintance of
the deceased having proceeded direct to