The San Francisco call., 1903-12-11
MINISTRY
OF JAPAN
INPEACHED
House Of Represent
atiVeS DenOunCeS
Cabinet.
Sensational Address in Re-
ply to the Speech From
the Throne.
War Party, Largely in Majority, Ar
raignS Government for Failure
in Dealing With Russia.

TOXIC. Dec 10.-The Emperor opened
the Diet to-day. The speech from the
throne, according to custom, was deliv-
cred in the upper house and was as fol-
lows:
1T gives us profound cause for re-
joicing that the friendly relations be-
tween our empire and other powers
ever continue to grow.
"As regards negotiations concerning
the important diplomatic matter of
maintaining peace in the Orient and of
our rights, we have instructed our Min
listers abroad carefully to attend TO
their duties.
I'VE have, furthermore, instructed
the members of our Cabinet to formu-
late a financial scheme and to intro
duce a budget with other bills.
You are required to discharge your
duties and meet our wishes by careful
and harmonious discussion"
The brevity of the allusion by the
Emperor to the crisis in the Far East
caused much disappointment.
REPLY DENoUNCES CABINET.
Soon after the speech from the throne
was delivered in the upper house, the
House of Representatives met for the
purpose of eonsfFeFirg e reply The re-.
ply was almost Immediately formu-
lated and was rushed through the
House with unusual expedition. 1t is
as follows:
Your Majesty has been gracious
enough personally to open the Diet and
to deliver a cordial message, which the
House has received with great graft
tude
The empire of Japan is now at
its zenith. It's position is one unpar-
alleled in the last thousand years The
members of the House of Representa-
tives profoundly regret that at
juncture so critical, involving the
fate of the nation, the course pursued
by the Cabinet is ill-adapted to the
needs of the situation and inconsistent
with the enhancement of our national
influence. The policy of the Ministry
has been shown to be incompatible
with the progress of the empire, and
to be purely domestic and temporizing.
The diplomacy of the Cabinet is a
failure, and we humbly appeal to your
Majesty to review the situation.
Our solicitude for the progress of
the empire dictates this reply. which
represents the aspirations and expecta-
tions Of the nation"
SITUATION is CRITICAL.
1t is understood that this reply was
adopted at the instance of the presi-
dent of the lower house and was a COM
plete surprise to the Government and
its supporters, who had not time to on
pose the adoption. The reply was ap-
proved amid a scene of great enthu-
siasm. The members of the Govern
ment parties in the House have vainly
tried TO persuade the president to re-
consider the reply TO the Emperors
address.
Marquis Saionje. president of the up-
per house, says that the reply of the
lower house was submitted without
proper notice.
After the adoption of the reply an in
terpellation was introduced in the
House of Representatives, declaring
that the delay in the settlement of The
negotiations with Russia concerning
the Far East was a source of regret to
the nation and an element of danger to
its peace and demanding a statement
of the progress of the negotiations.
me SlludlioH 10 ieSdIueu aS eX-
tremely critical and as likely to in
volve the prorogation, if not the dlsso-
luton of Parliament.
The action of the House is looked on
as doubly significant because hitherto
the address in reply to the speech from
the throne has only formally expressed
thanks for the condescension of the
Emperor in personally opening the
Diet