Evening star., 1921-11-06
JAPANESE POLICY
NOT TO Be CHANGED
Assassination of Premier Will
Not Alter Attitude Toward
Conference.
By the Associated Press.

The assassination of Premier Hara
VIII result in no change in Japan's
attitude toward the conference on
limitation of armament and far east
ern questions, Baron Shidehara, the
japanese ambassador, said yesterday.
In formal statement, the ambas-
sador declared that Hara's work in
shaping Japan's attitude toward the
approaching conference was destined
to prove of great benefit to mankind.
A great and good man had been taken
from Japan at a time when he could
least be spared, he said, adding that
to carry forward the pacific policy to
which the late premier had been COM
mitted would now be a just and
worthy tribute to his memory.
Senate Expresses Regret.
A resolution expressing regret over
the death of Premier Hara was adopt
ed yesterday by the Senate, upon mo-
ton of Senator Lodge of Massachu-
setts. the republican leader. The reso-
luton directed the Vice President to
express coincidence to the Japanese
government and Japanese representa-
tives here for the armament confer
ence.
The fact that the assassin was one
OF their own people has tended to
confirm, in the opinion of japanese
here. apprehension Of the existence
of political and social unrest Of
which the attack on MIR. Hara ap-
pears to have been an EXPIRE ession.
Late Information from Toxic that
the assassin is the son of a former
Samurai. recalls to Japanese one of
the most romantic and dramatic
epochs of Japanese history. In the
ancient feudal days before the i'm
perial restoration of Samurai. two
sworded warriors as they were
often call2d, were all powerful
throughout the empire. Their train
ing and code of honor showed a
striking similarity to the European
nobility anu gentry during the
middle ages. Obedience to their
feudal superiors even until death was
their watchword. 1t was birth and
breeding that counted, not money.
Became Itinerant Idlers.
The Samurai lived in the castle of
their Dalmyo. and received from him
rations for himself and family.
Gradually with the disappearance of
chivalry the Samurai were dismissed
by their lords, and they became
itinerant idleFs. Therefore they be-
came known as "Renin." which
literally means wandering people"
Their descendants have retained their
pride in their ancestors, but they
have no privileged social status in
Japan. Many Of them have fallen
into great misery, and they have in
herited wandering unrest from their
forefathers. Many of the younger
have turned their attention to
politics, and are known as political
malcontents.
r.
political situation in China is caus-
ing considerable disquietude to the
japanese delegation. The impotency
Of the Peking government in enforc-
ing it's authority throughout the land
where provincial governors backed by
their own troops are struggling for
power makes the general situation
attitude is described as being that
the extension of world commerce in
China depends primarily upon the
establishment of political and mill
tary unity in China. But Japan, it is
pointed out, will not be disposed to
suggest at the conference any meas
ure of international interference
which would be regarded by the Chi
nese as a violation of their sovereign
rights.
shantunE Question Open.
Japan will accept at the confer
ence, 1t is also understood, a discus
sion of the Shantung problem, but it
does not anticipate, nor would it ac-
cept, the thrusting upon Japan Of
any Shantung decision by the con-
ference. Japan, it is averred, still
hopes to settle the question directly
with China. The troops will be
withdrawn from Siberia, it is fur
thermore intimated, as soon as satis-
factory assurances are received from
some responsible Siberian or Russian
government that Japanese lives and
property will be protected.
The likelihood that the American
emigration question and the general
question Of racial equality will not
be brought up by Japan at the con.
ference seems to prevail in re-
sponsible Japanese circles.