Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-09-19
PLEA FOR UNITED JAPAN
/ ISSUED BY COUNT. 0KUMA
Premier Discusses International
Crisis Mt Reunion of Tokyo Press
and Foreign Correspondents.
SEES NEWSPAPERS POWER
Urges Support OF Now Ministry, and
n Emphasizes Necessity of Sacrifice
4 for Welfare of Nntion-IIolds Up
Germany as Example.

sECorrespondence of Associated Press.
TOKYO, September lS.-A plea for a
United Japan in the present interna-
Gonal crisis was issued by Premier
Count Okuma yesterday n; reunion
of the Japanese press. 10 which the
foreign correspondents were likewise
Iinvited. More than any statesman In
modern Japan, Count Okuma sees
1power in the press. He Is constantly
staking newspapers and newspaper men
into his confidence That Is tho way
he adopts 10 reach the people. and
Okuma believes, above all things. that
she day has come IN Japan when the
people must be talked TO. He - ever
striving 70 find the pulse OF the public.
III This was the second time Premier
4 Okuraa had spoken 10 Journalists since
b a1e decided To remain in ONCE. His OBJ
u 5ect yesterday wus TO urge support for
the new ministry and 70 emphasize the
necessity Of sacrifice for the welfare
of the nnt!oa.
g. I'm Germany" no declared. We have
/ an example o. nation tina; has shown
her power OF national unity" lie went
I on: 'Ae- r1:litarlsn Is undesirable, hu,
/ ele concerted eSort OF Germany con-
( s.:tutes he- strength. Japan IS now
Z involved in great international WAY
which .e affecting the politics and
i thought OF the whole world Amidst
This grea; struggle. Japan must main
-ain her position as a world power. In
order TO do this. We must unite our
efforts. and We ueed sound leadership"
EDUCATION IMPROVES
MATTERS CONSIDERABLY
The policies OF the reconstructed
\ Cabinet the Premier said. would be
the same as the old. He was more
than ever Convinced that It's policies
were sound and we'll adopted 10 the
needs Of the time. From the very out
set il had cndeavored to effect reforms
IN home politics Unfortunately. as he
thought, the manner In which japanese
elections are held Is not ideal. This
was due TO the fact that the represcn-
Hative form OF government was still
new to the majority of the people
The Premier continued: Happily, the
spread OF modern education has i'm
proved matters considerably. and the
nation is emerging from it's old feudal
ideas and usages. The struggle for
hnere political domination is petty THIS
IS what some OF tho Latin American
| countries are doing. For the sake OF
nne common lNleTc6tS OF INC country,
one must he prepared to sacrifice pri-
vate gains and unite In concerted nc
ton"
Count Okuma said he wished to lay
I emphasis on the truth that no socia
factor was moro powerful than tine
press. Its leadership was indispenRa
81 bile in any concerted action. He con
cluded: I'VE want tho assistance OF tn,
q press in fulfilling our mission We
Z welcome straightforward criticism, and
II we find our politics are disapproved
by the general public. We cannot. and
1 VIII not remain In Office"
The Doskikai party. which holds the
3 majority Of the governmental forces
s in the House OF Representatives.. has
& adopted a resolution pledging its whole
& hearted support to the new Okuma
5 ministry. The resolution was proposed
y by Baron kato. the ex-Forcigr Minis.
< ter. who is the leader % The party.
The Seivukai, or opposition. party
& has pledged itself TO hostility on the
8. ground that the Okuna Cab!ne, should
be held responsible for tht bribery
( scaada! and Oh the ground tha, By the
withdrawal Of h!s resignation Count
Okuma has destroyed the fundamental
! principles az the Const!cu;ioa'