The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-18
GENRO PREVENTED
 CRISIS IN CHINA Conservative Influence in
 Japan Saved Day ARE BEING ATTACKED Section of People Declaring That New Japan Has Outgrown Elder States men-Few in Number, But
 Mighty in Influence
ARE BEING ATTACKED

TolSio. July 4-(Correspondence of the Associated Press. )-The status of the genro or elder statesmen in mod ern Japan has been brought into pas sionate discussion by the activity of the genro in the recent crisis between Japan and China. While accounts differ as to the way in which the genro in- terfered at the last moment in the Chinese situation all agree upon the point that it was their conservative in fiuence which induced notifications in the demands upon China at time when many people were looking for an ulti matum that would be accompanied by harsher instead of more moderate de- mands.
 With tenacity which is, perhaps, the greatest Japanese trait, the genro piuckily held to their view point just as they did before the outbreak of the war between Japan and Germany when they questioned the wisdom of sending an ultimatum and of dragging Japan into a worldwide war. It the case of the German war they were over-ridden but in the case of China their wisdom and careful counsel carried the day. Now, cry is coming up among a sec 
 the genro on the ground that new Ja- pan has outgrown their ministrations and that the cabinet, constitutionelly created and empowered, should be given full authority as against 8 body of genro who have no constitutional stand ing.
 All Elderly Leaders
 The men who curbed the cabinet are. as their title implies. all elderly lead CTS. Only four in number, they make up in influence what they lacx in number. First, there is Marshal Prince Aritomo Yamagata, the great authority on the army, and his old friend. Marquis Mas ayoshi Matsukata, the great Napoleon of Japanese finance. The others are Marshal Prince Iwao Oyama, another great military figure who also holds the place of lord keeper of the privy seal. and Marquis Kaoru Inouke, an- other power in finance who is the fath- CT of K. Inouye, the Japanese ambassa. dor to Great Britain.
 According to reliable accounts, the eenro, seeking the higher and lasting interests of the empire advocated the broad idea that Japan should do noth- ing to lose the friendship of the friend ly powers and that self-restraint in- stead of unrestrictAd aggression should be the basic policy toward China They opposed the sending of an ultimatum
 
 kato, the foreign minister, should go to Picking and negotiate with President Yuan Shi-kaf himself. The cabinet pointed out the strength of public opinion in behalf of drastic action in China and referred to the fact that it had already made big concessions in the original demands. In the discussion ; lasting several days the genro op- posed the ultimatum and only consented thereto when the entire group of ar ticles contained in section five of the original demands were abandoned. Their belief was that owing to those conditions China would find no diff culty In accepting. They are reported as insisting that excessive demands by the Japanese at a time when Eurore was at war would be interpreted by the world as taking advantage of that war
 Harmony Eventually Reached
 The Asahi quotes genro as saving that If Japan was suspected of tyraniz ing over the weak she would never be able to win the confidence of the peo pig at home or of the nations abroad. Whatever may have gone on in secret Tn the conference between the cabinet and the genro. harmony was reached at last and war was averted
 Advocates of a more constitutional regime in Japan openly attack the eenro While admitting that their cour-
 
 Influence is a stumbling block to con stitutional progress. The ministers are above the genro," said the Asahi, "and the genro should not consider that they are sitting on the heads of the minis try We will go step further and ad- vocate complete abolition of the 6enro conference"
 opinion as to the genro is divided just as is opinion relative to the re- suit of the crisis. The press is hapry al the avoidance of war, but wishes that fewer concessions had been made. They voice the hope that the remain ing questions which were not pressed for settlement may be taken up at some other time and Japan's influence 1n China steadily developed until it becomes the predominating influence. However this may be, it is very clear that the influence of the genro is as strong as ever before and that what ever crisis may come in the future. their voice is certain to be heard