The herald., 1897-12-29
Leads to Resignation of the
Cabinet
A VIGOROUS FOREIGN POLICY
DEMANDED BY THE MILITARY
PARTY
The Japanese Warships Gathering at
Nagasaki to Resist the Ad-
vance of the Russians
Associated Press Special Wire

YOKOHAMA, DecJ 2S.-Owing to the
failure of the Premier, Marquis Saigo,
to reconstruct the Cabinet all the men,-
bers of that body have resigned.
The newspapers demand the formation
OF very strong ministry capable Of
coping with the situation in the East.
ANXIOUS FOR ACTION
LONDON, Dec. 28.-A dispatch to the
Times from Kobe, Japan, says the dis
solution Of the diet has greatly angercd
the political parties. 1t is probable that
the Marquise Ito, former premier, and
Count Okuma, former foreign minis
ter, will form a coalition ministry, with
vigorous foreign policy. The military
party is eager for action; extraordinary
activity prevails at the military and ma
val depots, and warships are assem-
bling at Nagasaki.
A special dispatch from Shanghai.
dated yesterday (Tuesday), says: 1t Is
reported that a Japanese fleet of war;
ships is waiting near Goto island, out
side Nagasaki, fully equipped for war
and only awaiting instructions. This
includes the Yashima and Full, two Of
the finest vessels in the Japanese navy.
and the Chen Yuen, that was captured
from China.
The Japanese fleet, 1t is understood, is
acting in close touch with the British
squadron under Vice Admiral Sir Alex
ander Butler, commander-in-ch chief of the
China station.
Japan will certainly oppose perma-
nent Russian occupation of Port Arthur.
The sudden dissolution of the Japanese
diet was owing to the war spirit.
1t is expected that the Japanese fleet
will attempt to prevent the landing Of
reinforcements from Odessa for the pro-
lection of the Russian Transasiatic rail-
way in Manchuria.
According to a letter which the Times
publishes this morning from a corre-
spondent at Toxic, a cabinet crisis oc-
Cured in November, due to the refusal
of the PrOgreSsists to vote an increase in
the land tax, which is necessary, owing
to the deficits caused by the late war.
Parliament will have expired next June,
and the Progressists, with a general
election in sight, did not desire to risk
| unpopularity by voting to increase tax
alton.
NO OFFICIAL NOTICE
WASHINGTON, Dec. 2S-The Japan
ese minister has not yet been advised Of
the resignation Of the entire cabinet and
feels that while the designations may
have been rendered, the emperor will
not accept them unless it becomes ap-
parent that an entirely new cabinet un-
der Marquis Ito can be formed.
Ito has been in private life much Of
- 1t IL coI-s -
| during the China-Japanese war, and it
is not believed he is ready to return to
the cabinet. He is strong with all par
ties, however, and has the people behind
him, so that he may again assume the
premiership if the emergency demands
it. The Yokohama dispatch refers to
Marquis Saigo as the present premier,
which is said at the legation to be amin
accuracy, as Minister Matsugata has
been premier up to this time, with Mar
quis Saigo as minister of marine. The
reference in this dispatch to the public
sentiment in Japan for strong minis
try, capable of coping with the situation
| in the east, is one of the first intimations
| direct from Japan that she may take q
hand in the controversy centering in
China. While he has received no off1c-
ial advices as to the purpose of his gov
ernment, Mr.. Hoshi expresses the per-
sonal conviction that Japan will not be
quick to enter the controversy but will
maintain an independent attitude for
the present
SOME EARLY HISTORY
WASHINGTON, Dec. 2S.-The an
nouncement Of the determination Of
England and Japan to protest against
the Emperor Of Corea practically yield
ing the government of that country into
the hands of the Russian Minister ex-
cites great interest here whero the story
of Russias invasion of Corea Is well
known. A year OF two ago Russia and
Japan entered into treaty Of alliance
under which they agreed to assume
Jointly the responsibility Of preserving
the peace and providing a good
government for Corea. In the division
Of responsibility Russia took command
of the army, the police and the direction
of foreign affairs, Japan having the de-
partments of education, agriculture and
other comparatively unimportant
branches of the government.
The collection Of revenues and the
management of the finances were left in
charge of an Englishman named Nc
Levy Brown, who held the title of "Ad-
wiser to the Finance Department and
Chief Commissioner of Customs"
It was his dismissal by the Emperor
of Corea which brought forth the Eng
lish Consul's protest The British war
vessels are now on their way to Cores
to support their protest.
1t was Mr.. Browns duty to see to
the honest collection Of customs, which
he performed SO well that there was q
prospect Coreas indebtedness would
soon be paid. Early in November, how-
ever, to the surprise of all concerned,
there appeared in Seoul as guest Of the
Russian legation. Mr.. Alexieff, whose