The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-06-09

gawa Shoguns. No Ministry can be formed
without Mar uis Ito's cohssnt and no
Cabinet can endure without his support.
He Is. to be sure, at present Resident General
in Corea. where he keers a firm grip upon
| the actions Of the Corean Emperor Heui,
but he retains an equally firm grip on home
politics. In our authors opinion, the, fact
that he is able to I'LL this dual role success
fully and not lose the first place near the
ear OF the Mikado is conclusive testimony
TO the remarkable power OF this very re-
markable man.
We are further informed-we should bear
in mind that the author OF the book before
US had the advantage Of a private confer
ence with the foremost Of Japanese states
men-that, a passionate lover Of peace.
Marquis Ito represents the constitutional
side Of the revolutionary movement as
opposed 10 tae advocates OF military de-
velopment. Although himself a member
Of the powerful Choshu clan. he has used
the influence Of his high family connection
for the benefit OF Japan as a whole and not
for that Of his W clansmen. 1t was he who
drafted the Constitution Of 1889 which
sounded the death knell OF reactionary
intrigue, and IL was through his influence
that oohsoription was established The
conclusion Of the Treaty Of Portsmouth was
also due to Marquis Ito.
Our author tells us that in his private
interview with the Marquis Ito he ventured
TO express a fear lest the Japanese army
should get out Of hand and require the
sttmulant Of another war to preserve it's
fighting spirit. you may" replied the
Marquis, dismiss all fear on this point.
Japan wants peace, and not only wants
1t but. unless attacked, means to have
it. ] cannot, OF course, answer for other
countries, but | can for Japan. because
| know the views Of the Emperor. OF his
Ministers and OF the whole Japanese peo-
pie. These views may be summed up in
two words: Peaceful expansion The
Marquis Ito assured his visitor hat the
army might be absolutely relied upon.
The army. he said. lie the servant. not the
master Of Japan. and a very good servant
too. As for the military spirit. that de
ponds, he said. upon right discipline, and
30 long as the present standard OF disci-
pline should be maintained there was no
reason to fear hat the spirit Of the army
would decay. In conclusion the Marquis
expressed a conviction that for japan the
outlook was peaceful and promising. Now
Una ia 10 lIoSVu III bAV III
protection Of Japan l lave great hopes Of
its future development. My mission to
Corea is to help its Emperor in the task
OF regeneration. Japan's relations to
Corea," he added, ARE much the same
as are those Of England to Egypt, and 1
hope, with patience and consideration, to
be able in time to accomplish some Of the
results which have made Lord Crsmer's
Egyptian administrator so conspicuously
successful
Our author believes that there is every
reason to predict a long life for the Saionji
Cabinet. which, he points out, contains
some men OF great administrative ability.
Marquis Saionji, the Premier. is an init
mate friend and political ally Of Marquis
Ito, and he. for his own sake. commands
the confidence of moderate men in both
houses of the Japanese Parliament. For
the time being, the influence Of Marquis
Ito dominates the situation, and long may
this lie the case" NJ. w. IL.