Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-01-15
JAPANESE
CABINET IN
OPENREVOLT
MIKAD0 AND HIS ADVISERS
DISAGREE
THREE MINISTER'S ARE OUT;
BODY REoRGANIzED
Approach OF Elections Causes oppo-
sltlon Party to Make Heated News
paper Campaign Against
Governments Policy

By Associated Press.
TOXIC, Jan. 1.-THE resignation Of
the entire cabinet was narrowly
averted today.
The premier. Marquis Saionti, ten
dered his resignation to the emperor
this afternoon at o'clock, but his ma
desty declined to receive it, while the
alternative resignation of Yoshiro
sakatani, minister of finance, and of
Isaburo Yamagata, minister Of COM
munications. were accepted.
Masahisa Matsuda, minister OF JUS
tlce. will combine the portfolio OF
finance. and Keihara, minister OF the
interior, will combine that of minister
OF communications.
This leaves the cabinet without any
new element and removes the disput-
ants. who have been the disturbing
factors for some time.
The information about the resigna-
ton of Isaburo Yamagata as minister
NJ communications announced on jan
uary II was evidently correct and the
official denial made on the following
dav was intended probably to tide over
the period, during which there was a
possibility of an adjustment
Insists on Resignation
The cabinet council this morning
rave rise to some heated debates.
Yamagata insisted upon the resigna-
ton Of Sakatani, who Is responsible
for the budget which will be intro
duced in the diet this month, and who
Is blamed by the cabinet ministers ana
the public because in 1907 he promised
that there would b no increase made
in the taxation nor -ould there be any
4.asort ~ faraisrn If,s.l in 1908.
An Investigation of the financial
situation, however, convinced the cab
met officers and elder statesmen that
an increase in the taxation or in lieu
thereof foreign loan would be I'M
avoidable.
sakatani endeavored to reduce the
appropriation of the army and navy to
which there factions objected and
finally succeeded in carrying their
point.
Sakatani thereupon attempted to re-
duce the appropriations for railways
and to this Yamagata raised an objec-
tion. Sakatani then increased the
general taxation, but this found
strenuous objections among the lead
ing merchants and bankers.
Sakatani finally decided to resign
and Yamagata also insisted that his
resignation should be accepted.
agree on FFo9TdW
Marquis Saionji, who was response
bic as the head of the cabinet. tnen
decided TO tender his resignation, and
the other members of the cabinet who
agreed finally and decided on the fol-
lowing program:
The Marquis saionjfs resignation
would first be offered. II the emperor
declined to accept It then the resigna-
ton of Sakatani and Yamagata would
be offered, Matsuda and Hara consent
ing to combine their portfolios In pur-
suance OF this agreement Premier
Saionji and Prince Ito waited on the
emperor this afternoon. The emperor
refused to accept the resignation OF
Saionti, but accepted the designations
of sakatani and Yamagata.
The whole matter is now believed to
be settled. There probably will be
some changes of items in the budget
and possibly the government may de-
eide not to increase taxation, but IN
stead reduce the appropriations for the
army and navy. It is also possible
that 1t may be decided to issue loan
to cover the deficiency.