Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-11-28
OUR one AIM
Is Peace Of Orient and
Our Own Safety
Says Premier Katsura of Japan
in Discussing the War.
Prepared to Sacrifice Last Cent and
Last Man.

Toxic. Nov. 21.-Discussing the war
and the domestic, financial and polit-
zeal conditions of Japan on the eve or
the assembling of the Diet. with the
correspondent of The Associated Press.
today, Premier katsura said:
TO insure peace in the Orient and
10 safeguard our national existence Is
the aim ami the purpose of our empire,
and no sacrifice shall be too great for
successfully affecting this purpose
itiISSi /. besides violating her pledges
i'll Mdchuria. crowned her over-
heHling and aggressive policy by ex-
tending her arms To the Korean penini-
Sula
Russia must see that the war can
not be concluded by the issues of 4 few
battlaships. With us the war means
life or death. and not one of our A.
100000 brethren remains ignorant of
the vital issue at stake.
We are prepared to sacrifice our
last man and oar last cent for this war.
The delay in the decisive result
Of our seg4 ut Port Arthur gives Rus
STA hope of being able to relieve the
garrison and for this purpose she re-
solved to "mlsloy her naval defence az
home. while on land corps after corps
has been lnobilized and sent eastward
The military and naval plan or
Russia seems to center in the relief
of Port Arthur and Gen. Kuropat kin.s
southwark advance which resulted in
the serious defeat had the relief of the
s,arrison as its sole object.
"ENcr,thing seems to hinge on the
fall of Port Arthur. but | do not con-
sole myself with the thought that the
capture of that Inflated fortress will
bring the war to a speedy termination
The capture will give occasion for re-
ueWed Plans for warfare by Russia and
| am watching keenly for such new
developments.
The domestic conditions of JaDan
are highly satisfactory. The history
of olr Diet may be summed up by say
ing that from the first it planted itself
firmly in opposition to the govern
ment on financial questions. After nv
appointment friction became increas-
ingly violent. Fhe two great parties,
the rOnstitutionaliSts and the Pro-
gressists. held a combined front in OPP
position to my ministry. Despite ad-
ministratiVe reforms affected on their
demand we 1aiitd to satisfy them. They
criticised our financial measures as
excessive and refused to pass the
bills
Judging by those conditions. seri-
ous collisions between the governed
and governing were predicted. but
" hen the war came this friction entire-
~ ceased and the House Of Rcpresen-
tatives. whic.- once refused to pass a
budget Of ST.. 600. 900 as excessive and
unbeara BE. gave a ready and willing
assent to the first war budget of $2SS,-
O0o. 900.
AT this session of the Diet, the gov
ernment will be compelled to present a
budget. calling for $3SS.000,000 and in
,lications are that it will be passed
without the slightest difficulty.
This happy phenomenon is attrib-
utahle to the characteristics of our
people.
Before a great national problem our
people unite and friends and opponents
ioin hands for the accomplishment of
our national purposes. With the great
problem before them, the people of our
nation have become as one man. We
have no war party and no peace party
rs Russia has, but on the contrary the
nation is one and united with a deter
nina ton to fight to the last extrem-
ity."