The daily morning journal and courier., 1903-12-11

from the Throne is Made COndem ning
 the Governments Policy at Homo aud
 Abroad-Report That she House Win
 be Dissolved.
 Tokio. 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 is as fol- lows:
 My lords and gentlemen: It gives us profound cause for rejoicing that the friendly relations between our empire and other powers are good and they 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- isters abroad carefully to attend to their duties.
 "We have furthermore instructed the members of our cabinet to formulate a financial scheme and to introduce a budget with other bills. ..
 ''You are required to discharge your duties and meet our wishes by careful and harmonious discussions
 The brevity of the allusion by the emperor to the crisis in the Far East caused much disappointment.
 Soon after the speech from the throne was delivered in the upper house the house of representatives met for the purpose of considering reply. The re- ply was almost immediately formulated and was rushed through the house with unusual expedition. It is as follows: s.
 Your majesty has been gracious enough to personally open the diet and to deliver a cordial message, which the house has received with great grati- tude.
 '"rhe empire of Japan is now at it's zenith. Its position is one one unpara- lelled in the last thousand years. The members of the House of Representa- tiyes profoundly regret that, at june ture so critical, involving the fate of the nation, the course pursued by the cabinet is i'll advised as to the needs | of the situation and inconsistent with the enhancement of our national inliu- enee. 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. 1 Our solicitude for the progress of y the empire dictates this reply, which represents the aspirations and expecta- tions of the nation."
 I It is understood that this reply was adopted at the instance of the presi- dent of the lower house and was a com pIete surprise to the government and 1 it's supporters, who had not time to op- pose the adoption of the reply, which was approved without division amid u scene of great enthusiasm. The mem- bers of the government parties in the House have vainly tried to persuade the president to reconsider the reply to the emperor's address.
 | The Marquis Saionje, president of the upper house, claims that the reply of the lower house was submitted without proper notice. 4
 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 negotia- tions with Russia concerning the far east was a source of regret to the na- | tion and an element of danger to it's peace, and demanding statement of the progress of the negotiations.
 The situation is regarded as extreme ly critical and as likely to involve the propagation, if not the dissolution, of the parliament.
 The action of the house is looked up- ! on as doubly significant because hith- erto the address in reply to the speech from the throne has only formally ex- pressed thanks for the condescension of the emperor in personally opening | the Diet.