The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1917-01-24
JAPAN FACING
INTERNAL now
over PREMIER
Count Tepauchi is Target for
Criticism of Formidable
Opposition.

ed with an internal political crisis The
| opposition to the administration Of
| Count Terauch has opened a vigor-
| GUS campaign on the ground that the
Terauchi non-partisan cabinet was
| formed in violation of the spirit of the
| constitution. The constitutional par
ty, which has a majority in the house
of peers and is under the leadership
Of Viscount Kato, former minister of
foreign affairs, has joined hands with
the nationalist group in the lower
house for war against the premier.
The battle will be fought out in the
diet. which reconvenes to-day. Count
Terauchi and Viscount Motono, for
eign minister, will deliver addresses in
defense of the administration. The
press expects the outcome of the cri-
sis is to be dissolution and a new
election.
In his address in the house Of peers
Premier Terauchi expressed satisfac-
ton that Japan's relations with the
treaty powers, other than the partici-
pants in the war, are more and more
cordial" He declared that Japan was
working in unreserved unison with the
Allies and said that, Germany's peace
proposal was rejected because it was
not inspired by a sincere desire for
peace. In view of the magnitude of
the war the premier urged the nation
to stand united irrespective of class
or politics sand to adopt post bellum
policies which would protect the pres
tiSe and lasting interests Of the empire
and remove all causes of danger to
peace in the far east.
The premier declared that the gov
eminent was paying particular atten-
ton to it's relations with China and
would spare no pains to cultivate
neighbor1y relations. He said the
Japanese administration was now en-
deavoring to sweep away all clouds
which hitherto had darkened the path
of the two nations and establish rela-
tions of mutual trust, confidence and
helpfulness.
st need scarcely remind YOU" con-
tinued the premier, that. armament
preservation Care should always be
taken to keep our defense in an alb
solute condition of efficiency and
strength, in due response to the rela-
tons between the powers, our rela-
portion with the wealth and resources
Of the country. To be prepared
against emergencies is important The
spirit of the people would be invigo-
rated by nursing the nationalistic idea
and improving the public health. 1t
is equally important that the national
resources be increased and industry
and commerce encouraged"
In the course of a lengthy address,
in which he unequivocally asserted
that Germany's ambition for world he
gemony was the true cause of the war;
Viscount Motono dwelt particularly
on the relations between the United
States and japan. Japan, he said, al
ways has wanted to maintain the most
sincerely amicable relations with
America.
eff light Clouds he said, ''have oc-
casionally obscured, however so little,
the relations OF the two countries
there were generally dissipated by the
common good will of the two govern
ments. Certainly there exist questions
on which our governments may not
be in accord, that happens even be-
tween allied countries. However, by
examining even the thorniest ques-
tons Loyalty and frankly, with a de-
termination to settle them in an ami
cable and coneiliatory manner. the
means of reaching an understanding
are surely found. This is the road
which the two governments always
have followed to the great satisfaction
OF the two nations.
ct observe with great joy the symp-
toms of most genuine sympathy man
ifested for some time between the two
countries. Thus proposals for COM
China have been made by American
mon action in the financial affairs of
capitalists. The imperial govern
ment will follow with the liveliest in
terest the subsequent development and
economic rapproachment of the two
nations"
The majority groups in parliament
opened their campaign against the
Terauchi administration today by in
PRODUCING in the house Of peers
resolution of lack of confidence. Wig
orous attacks were made on various
points in the addresses delivered yes.
terday by Count Terauchi and Wis.,
count Motono, foreign minister. Wis
count Ishii, former minister of for
eign affairs, protested against any
insinuation by the administration that
the Okuma cabinet had interfered in
China improperly
Premier Terauchi, replying to his
opponents, insisted that the nation
could be governed by a cabinet which !
did not have a majority in parlia-
ment. A resolution was adopted by
the diet expressing sympathy and ad-
miration for the efforts Of the Allies
sto secure a lasting peace"