New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-26
Diet OUT;
OPPOSED BIG ARMY
Dissolved by Emperor
When II Rejects Proposal
to Spend $27S,OOO, 900.

Toxic, Dec 25.-Owing to the reJec-
tion Of the measure for an increase in
the army the Emperor to-day dissolved
the Imperial Diet, thus upholdng the
programme OF the ministry for mill
tary development. When the decision
was announced there was a great com
motion in the House and cheers from
the government side.
The Premier, Count Okuma, censured
the Opposition for impeding the ma
tional welfare" Failing to find flaw
in the policy of Foreign Minister Kato
regarding China, they centred their at
tack on the army. lie denied that the
proposals meant the expansion Of the
army and militarism.
The army measure was rejected
by a majority Of 65, but the House
approved the naval increase by a ma
iority Of T.
A rescript suspends the House Of
Peers pending the election, which prob
AMY VIII NC utlA 4N 4hdtNIs
The closing session Of the House
was dramatic in the extreme. The
debate extended all through the day
and on into the night The House was
unable to compose It's differences, and
there was no sign that the debate was
approaching the end when, shortly be-
fore 10 o'clock. it was announced that
Emperor Yoshihiti had exercised his
royal prerogative, dissolving the Diet.
A ministerial declaration expresses
the conviction that the dissolution Of
the Diet was IN accordance with the
will of the PEOPLE. 1t says that the
end of the great war is still distant
and that meanwhile national harmony,
necessary at this grave moment, has
become lmpcrilled by selfish party
strife.
The Cabinets programme, 1T declares,
embodies the views of the National De
fence Council regarding the necessities
of defence. The japanese press gener-
ally approves the action of the En-
peror i'm dissolving the Diet.
Tho Diet was convened on December
r Baron Kato. Minister Of Foreign
Affairs. in an address at that time ap-
pealed TO the Diet 20 lay aside political
s,rife IN view of the unsettled inter
national situation. II was the En-
poror's wish. he said. that the session
sbould not be marked by political
v,rauglinC. There were indications,
however. that the Opposition could not
be placated 30 long as the government
insisted upon its programme, and ~
was evident that the struggle would
centre around the question OF increas-
Tho proposal TO add two or more
divisions to the army in Corea caused
tho collapse Of the last SainonIl MIN
istry and IL was felt that on this occa-
sion the army question was likely 10
lead either 20 the collapse OF the CaDl-
net or the dissolution Of the Diet.
O,position developed in the House
Of Representativcs 20 the budget for
1915. which showed an estimated oN-
pcI diture of $50, 100000 yen lS2fS,-
600 0OOl and a decrease Of the revenues
of $40 900 600. Recent dispatches from
Toxic said that there was good reason
TO believe that unless the House
adopted the budget 1t would be dis.
solved by the Emperor. The Merchants
Association and baron Shlbusawa,
resident Of the American-Japanes.e
Association. and Buci Nakano,. presl-
dent dent Of the Toxic Chamber Of Com
merce. took steps few days age, TO
urge the Diet and Cabinet to reach
compromise in the hope Of preventing
dissolution of the House or the col,
lapse Of the ministry. They urged
tbat a crisis in time of war would
cause an unfavorabe impression
abroad. The Opposition leaders De
clared that proposals for increases IN
tbe army would be rejected.