Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1918-10-21
Military Influence in Mikado'S
Realm Said to Be Not as
Dominant as Many 0utsid-
efS Have Believed,
ENTERED RUSSIA IN
AGREEMENT WITH U. S.
Are Ready to Recognize Any
Responsible Slavic Govern
ment but Domination of
Germany SternIy Opposed,
tsr no-s,na ,ousa.l sste,.. t...rn ~.rr,

lay norENu JOURNAL SPECIAL LEA<En wIREL
Toxic, Thursday, Oct. 10, (by The
Associated Press )-Takashi Hara,
Japan's first commoner premier and
leader of the Seiyukwai party said
today in his first statement of his
policies that Japan had no intention
or ambition of aggression or con-
quest and that the country had no
idea except to be in proper condition
for defense and that the military in
fluence 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 will recognize a respons-
ible government, whether bolshevik
or otherwise. Japan, however, would
never agree to see Russia dominated
by German influence.
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 taxi
ing Independent action in the future
Premier Hara declared that he was
amazed, on visiting America eleven
years aog, to hear the fears voiced by
Americans that Japans military
strength was designed against Amer
lea.
All Wars Defensive.
This is, of course, absurd" ne
said. History shows that Japan has
never engaged voluntarily in wars. It
is admitted that our war against Rus
sia was purely defensive. We have
no ambition nor intention of agrees
: sion or conquest. The present war
shows that our agreements were de-
fective and this will be remedied but
Japan has no idea except to be in a
proper condition for defense.
10 "Our victories in the Chinese and
Russian wars naturally led the Jap
anese people to admire their army,
and this, in turn, may have led to
misconception abroad of the import
ance which Japan gives to arma-
ments.
THE military influence is not so
dominant in Japan as outsiders may
believe Our constitution Is still
young, and some of our people may
favor a similar form of government
to the German system, but the pres
ent ministry is united in the determ-
jnation to secure the constitutional
development of Japan along the pop
ular lines which the war has so indis-
putably 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-
dunn for that voice.
Friendly to U. S.
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 cor
nerstone of Japan's foreign relations
he said. he wished to emphasize that
his special effort would be to promote
friendly relations with the United |
States.
please tell that to the American
people as constantly as you can" he
said. because my colleagues and I
keenly desire to see Japan and Amer
lea brought closer together and every |
shadow of misunderstanding re-
moved
Premier Hara produced the impress
sion that Japan. which for the last !
fifty years has been largely ruled by |
bureaucrats, has entered upon a new |
and significant period of constitution |
al progress in which popular opinion |
is more effectively to guide the ma |
tons policies
Beginning life as newspaper re- |
porter, Hara's attainment to the pre- /
lniershlp is regarded as proving that |
the time has arrived when in Japan,
as in America. any citizen can hone To
climb to the places of highest respons-
ibility.