The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-05-13
JAPAN'S CABINET CRISIS
THE MARQUIS ITO SUDDENLY
RESIGNS.
Caused by the State of the National
Finances-Viscount Watanabe Insists
on Suspending Public Works.

YOKOHAMA, May 3.-The public was
not altogether unprepared for polfti-
cal upheaVal at any moment, owing to
the financial dispute in the Cabinet.
None the less, the resignation of ihe
Government has come rather uneXpect-
eddy. Yesterday morning about 10
o'clock Marquis Ito, despite an appoint /
ment with the General Committees of |
the Seiyukai, proceeded to the Palace
leaving word with his private secre- |
tary that, owing to the occurrence of ,
some important business, he could not |
see his visitors At the Palace the Pre- |
mier was admitted to audience with the |
Emperor to whom he submitted his re-
signation, on the ground that lack of
unity had arisen among the members
o the Cabinet on financial questions,
and he could not continue in office. The
Premier left the Palace shortly after
noon and returned to his official resi-
dence. Immediately on his return from
the Court, Marquis Ito caused messen-
gers to be sent round to the members
of the Cabinet, announcing the holding
of an extraordinary counsel at once
About half-past two O'Clock all the
Ministers and the Marquis Saionji.
President of the Privy Council assem-
bled at the official residence of the Pre-
mier. Marquis Ito acquainted his col
leagues with the step he had taken, and
| the meeting dispersed in about half an
| hour. After the Council Admiral Va
mamoto Minister of the Navy, pro-
ceeded to the Palace and rendered his
| resignation. Later he was followed nv
Baron Suyematsu. Baron Kaneko. Mr..
kato, Mr.. Hara, Mr.. Hayashi and Mr..
| Watanabe, all of whom did the same
! Up to last evening Viscount Watana-
be, Minister for Finance, had not sent
i'll his resignation, but it is believed
that he would do so sooner or later.
ta t.,.l 4,
recommended Marquis Yamagata to the
Emperor as his successor but so far no
request appears to have been made to
the Marquis to form new Ministry.
Last evening an Imperial mandate
was given to Marquis Saionji appoint
ing him Minister President ad interim.
Marquis Ito left Tokyo for Oiso by the
10 p. M train last night.
Commenting on the immediate cause
of the collapse of the Cabinet, the Jill
states that there is no doubt that il has
been compelled by the lack of unity
amongst Ministers onthe financial ques-
ton. NiscOunt Watanabe Minister for
Finance proposed to suspend all pub
lie undertakings for the na[t lisca,
year the expenditure for which is de-
frayed by means of a loan. Thu nthe:'
Ministers, however, opposed this me =
sure and maintained that the measure
of the Minister of Finance was too
might be postponed wthou. seriols
harm might be deferred bur that the
others should oe proceeded with. This
caused a conflict of views bet ve 4 ;he
Minister of Finance an tn o,h AZ u,el m
bers of the Ministry.
NiscOunt Watanabe gave the Premier
to understand that the disbursement of
20 to 80 million yen for the public I'M
dertakings might be made somehow ~
other in the next fiscal year. but that
he did not recommend such course.
The Premier, in the hope of affecting a
compromise among the Cabinet Minis
terS, conferred with Marquis Salon I!
Alr kato, and Admiral Yamamotl. The
two last-named gentlemen therefore
prepared plan Of compromise and trCli
il 20 Niscount Watanabe to ascertain
whether he could agree. The Mialster
of Finance, however, refused To m, We
from the ground originally taken IN uy
him and thus all hope of restoring har-
mony in the Cabinet had to be aba
doned, resulting in the resignation of
the Government, as mentioned above.