Arizona republican., 1918-10-21
JAPANESE PREMIER FRANKLY DECLARES
 NATIONS ATTITUDE

TOXIC, Thursday. Oct. 10.-(By the Associated Press)-Takashi Hara, Ja- pans first commoner premier and lead CT of the Seiyukawi party, said today in his first statement of his policies, that Japan had no intention nor ambition of aggression or conquest and that the country had no idea, except to be in proper condition for defense, and that the military influence in Japan is not so dominant as outsiders may believe.
 Speaking of China, Premier Hara said he held to the open door policy of the Lansing -IShii agreement and would constantly adhere to the policy of non- interference in the internal affairs of China. The same he said, was true in the case of Russia. where Japan only wished a responsible government, whether bolshevik or otherwise. Japan however, would never agree to see Rus sia dominated by German influence. Amazed At American View
 In conclusion, the premier declared that Japan's expedition into Siberia was the result of a consultation with the United States and the allies and that Japan had no intention of taking inde pendent action in the future. Premier Hara declared that he was amazed, on visiting America eleven years ago, to hear the fears voiced by some Ameri cans that Japan's military strength was designed against America.
 "This is, of course, absurd he said. History shows that Japan has never engaged voluntarily in wars. It is ad mitted that our war against Russia was purely defensive. We have no ambition or intention of aggression or conquest |, hot ments were defective and this will be remeded, but Japan has no idea except to be in proper condition for defense.
 "Our victories in the Chinese and Russian wars naturally led the Japan csc people to admire their army. and this. in turn, may have led to a miscon- ception abroad of the importance which Japan gives to armaments.
 Desire Popular Government
 "The military influence is not so dom inant in Japan as outsiders may be- | lieve. Our constitution is still young, and some of our people may favor a similar form of government to the Ger man system. but the present ministry is united in the determination to secure the constitutional development of Japan along the popular lines, which the war has so indisputably demonstrated as the worlds tendency and the desire of the peoples of the world.
 "The voice of the people must be obeyed and the press is the great me- dium for that voice"
 He declared he and his colleagues would constantly labor on the future questions Arising out of the present war Although the alliance with Great Britain would remain the cornerstone of Japan's foreign relations. he said, he wished to emphasize that his special effort would be to promote friendly re- lations with the United States.
 Wishes Close u. s. Relations.
 "Please tell that to the American peo- pie as convincingly as you can,' he said because my colleagues and I keenly desire to see Japan and America brought closer together and every shadow of misunderstanding removed'
 Premier Hara produced the impress sion that Japan, which for the last 50 years has been largely ruled by bureau crats, has entered upon new and sig nificant period of constitutional prog ress, in which popular opinion is more effectively to guide the nations policies. Beginning life as a newspaper re- porter. Hara's attainment to the pre- miership is regarded as proving that the time has arrived when in Japan as in America. any citizen can hope to climb to the places of highest respon- sibility