New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-11-28
'JAPAN'S AIMS AND POWER
NATION UNITED IN VAR.
4 War Budget of 1888 900, OO0-
Premier Katsuras Vie1cs.

Toxic Nov Embarrassing the war and the
domestic financial and political conditions OF
Japan on the eve of the assembling of the Diet,
Premier Katsura said to-day;
To insure peace in the Orient. and to safe
guard our national existence, Is the aim and
purpose Of our empire, and no sacrifice shali
be too great for successfully effecting this pur-
pcse.
Russia, beside violating her pledges in Man
churia crowned her overbearing and aggressive
policy by extending her arms TO the Corean
Peninsula.
We were highly solicitous to preserve peace.
but had no alternative except that of war,
which forced upon us Throughout the ne
gotiations Russia showed a naughty and over
bearing attitude, which, as has recently oeeii
shown, inadequately supported by military
strength Russia allowed herself to be deceived
and sighted empire, for she never believed
that Japan would draw the sword. Then after
suffering repeated defeats on land and sea, Rus
STA perceived the mistake she had made, and
having discovered the seriousness of the situa-
ton, began TO take adequate measures.
The case different with us. We are alive
to the seriousness of the situation. and We're
prepared for eXigencies. Russia must see that
the war cannot be concluded by the issues OF
few battles. With us the means life or
death. and not OF our forty-hVe million
brethren remains ignorant of the vital issue at
stake We are prepared to sacrifice our last
and last cent for this war.
The delay in the decisive result OF our siege
at Port Arthur gives Russia hope OF being aple
TO relieve the garrison, and for this purpose she
resolved to empty her naval defence at nome
while on land corps after corps has been mobl-
lied and sent eastward.
The military and naval plan Of Russia seems
to centre in the relief of Port Arthur, and Gen
eral Kuropatkins southwark advance, which
resulted in his serious defeat. had the relief OF
the garrison as its sole object. The Russian
Emperor'S instructions TO Kuropatkin not TO re-
lIIe peyohu Moukueh "eIe uesIsLc't - ~ e' af
gloom that had been hanging over the people OF
Russia since the defeat of the Russian arms at
the battle of Liao-Yang, and kuropatklh as
suned the aggressive, perhaps against his own
judgment.
Everything seems to hinge on the fall of Port
Arthur but I do not console myself with the
thought that the capture Of that i'll fated fortress
will bring the to a speedy termination. Its
capture will give occasion for renewed plans
for warfare by Russia, and ] am watching
keenly for such new developments.
The domestic conditions Of Japan are highly
satisfactory. The history of our Diet may be
summed up by saying that from the first 1t
planted itself firmly III opposition to the govern
ment financial questions After my APP
pointment friction became increasingly violent:
The two great parties, the Constitutionallsts ana
the Progressives, held combined front in OPP
position TO my ministry. Despite administrative
reforms effected on their demand we failed to
satisfy them. They criticised our hnancia!
measures as excessive and refused TO pass the
bills
Serious collisions between the governed and
the governing were predicted, but when the war
came this friction entirely ceased, and the House
of Representatives which once refused to pass
a budget Of $125,000,000 as excessive and UNI
bearable gave ready and willing assent to the
first budget of S28S 100000.
At this session of the Diet the government
will be COMPELLED to present budget calling 70:
$3SS, 10000, and indications are that II Will be
passed without the slightest difficulty.
This happy phenomenon il attributable to the
characteristics of our people. Before a great
national problem our people unite, and friends
and opponents join hands for the accomplish
ment of our national purposes. With the great
problem of the war before them, the people of
our nation have become one man. We have
no war party and no peace party, as Russia has
but, on the contrary, our nation is one and
united. with a determination to fight to the last
extremity.
When the war came on it so happened that
our financial condition was such that every
thing indicated fresh awakening after a period
of long duness and inactivity. Thus our latent
financial energy directed toward the
fund Our people showing ample capacity
domestic loans. economic conditions have
not been affected, while banking conditions have
actually expanded since the beginning OF hos
Titles
The war expenses reach large sum monthly,
but the government has managed their absorp
ton in such a manner as to affect least the
normal conditions OF the money market. The
decrease in circulation has been very small. and
our people are cheerfullv meeting the advanced
taxation while every domestic loan has been
overSu bscribed
1 confess that the results have exceeded our
expectations. They explained by the fact
that our people maintain calm attitude and
diligently continue their usual occupations.
Frugal habits have been maintained and no
productive energy has been sacrificed.
Our crops this year exceed their average
value by SG0000000 Our foreign trade shows
az Improvement over that of 1903 and I expect
il will reach "a total of $3.50 600 600 The prices
of commodities have been slightly increased,
but our financial and economic conditions re-
main unaffected. This has probably surprised
our enemy, for it exceeds our own expectations
We redoubling our energies working dill
gently, living frugally, and going forward in
this war unhesitatingly.