New-York tribune., 1921-11-05
Hara, First Commoner to Head
Government, Fought Militarists
Founder of Liberal Party Had Long and Distinguished
Career; Began as Newspaper Reporter; Served
Both at Home and Abroad; Previous Plot Foled

conspiracicS and threats innumcfablc
against the Premier.
In November of last year Hara pub
lished noteworthy article. denying
that Japan had militaristic aims or nur-
poses and insisting that commercial
and not political expansion was her truo
policy. This policy, of Commercial
penetration" he especially applied to
China, and in pursuance of it he was
inclined to abandon all political and
military schemes in Shantung.
Interested In Arms Farley
Hara was greatly interested in the
coming conference on Pacific affairs. as
we'll as that on limitation Of armament
at Washington, and only month ago
expressed strong hope that the qucs
tion of racial equality (which he re-
garded as would be ami
cably and equitably settled, to the
great advantage of relations between
Japan and America. He also declared
that Japan was ready to accep. limi-
tation of her naval establishment
along with the rest Of the world, and
always keeping in mind the necessities
of her national defense.
Hara at first contemplated coming
to Washington in person, but finally
decided that he could serve Japan
better by staying at home He became
involved, however, lin an acrimonious
controversy with the military party
over his appointment of delegates.
Among those named was Vice-Admiral
Kato, Minister of the Navy, and Mr..
Hara indicated that he would himself
take charge of that department while
the Minister was absent. Against this
the militarists violently protested, on
the ground that it was Unconstitutional
for any one but naval officer to be
Minister Of the Navy; and General
Yamanashi, the Minister of War, is
said to have threatened to resign if
Mr. Hara persisted in thus acting.
In recent correspondence from Toxic
in The Tribune, the Prime Minister
was described as "Hara the imperturb-
able," as follows:
ellis smooth -shaven, smiling face
seems crowned too young with pure
white hair. He never loses his calm
even when others of his official family
depart TOR moment from traditional
Oriental impsssiveness, when some
such event as, for example, the Ameri-
can suggestion to discuss Far Eastern
policies, comes unexpected and perhaps
undesircd.
"At the Cabinet councils he is said
to impose his will like Napoleon, and
like Napoleon, he sleeps but five hours
Japanese that he is the man who de-
cides almost all important issues COM
ing before the Cabinet other Ministers
merely serving as his secretaries, so
autocratic is he in the handling of the
government affairs. Japanese attribute
his domination Of his Cabinet to his
indomitable will power and political
sagacity or cleverness.
There is saying that to under
stand Japan's foreign and domestic
policies one needs to understand
Takashi Hara's character, but Mr.
Hara is not a personality to be under
stood easily. He always keeps his
plans to himself and very few of his
ministers or close. associates know any
thing about his intended move until
the last moment. at is believed that it
was Mr.. Hara, and not the Home Min
lister, who recommended that drastic
steps be taken to handle the labor
situation in Kobe when the issue was
brought up for a final decision of the
Cabinet and his word became law,
whether good or bad.
Reporters find Hara a hard man to
interview. He is gracious enough, but
his flashes of humor disturb them
Some of them tried to get him to talk
about the Washington conference. He
spared for while, and then added:
Now, let's stop talking shop. | don't
like to talk every day about such dry
subjects. feel in heaven only when
| return to this native city of mine
This was q reference to Morioka, where
he was visiting.
Chow about my health? It's fine, if
only get five hours sleep, which is hard
enough to get these days. Mrs. Hara?
She has recovered maybe because she
has stopped smoking"