The New York herald., 1921-10-12

Sentiment in its favor has grown
with great rapidity. The Government
itself was probably as much surprised
at the spirit In which the suggestion
of the American President was re-
ceived as the most confirmed warrior
N the army or navy, who looks upon
such proposals as sheer nonsense.
The Genro, which provides a sort
Of unofficial form Of commission gov
ernment, made a futile attempt at
the outset to check the tide of popu-
lar sentiment in favor OF the Har-
ding plan. In doing SO 1t encoun-
tered its first defeat in many years,
for the Genro, despite the fact that
Its functions, derived from the old
clan processes OF feudalism. arc pure
ly advisory. IL the most powerful sin
gle institution in the country.
The. boss Of 1t is Field Marshal
Prince YAruagata, "the Grand Old
Man OF Nippon who at SO is plan
ming his lifework for tho mex. forty
years. Prince Yamagata. who Is the
most popular of national heroes IN
Nippon. is not only the head of the
Genro but he is the president Of the
Privy Council. He Is the most ac-
complisaed and successful politician
in Japan. His influence, which has
been won by sheer intellectual force
and the complete understanding Of
Japanese psychology, pervades and
practically influences every element OF
the people.
He can make or unnlake Cabinets,
formulate or change policies, and his
personal influence with the Emperor
Is very great, because in the last anal
ysis 1t is tho veto OF the Genro (Which,
means Yamagata) that finally dis
poses. The Genro Is composed OF sew
eral Of the Elder Statesmen" but it
is Yamagata who dominates his asso-
ciates as easily as Platt or Quay or
Hanna or Croker dominated their re-
spective parties in their time. The
most important conferees Of Yama-
gaia are the Marquises Matsukata and
celebrity and popularity but Of less
Importance. for. as said, Japan looks
to Yamagata alone for the key word.
At the outset of the armament dis
cussion, to which Japan gave its tardy
assent, the Seiyukai and the Kene-
sakai. political parties which most
clearly reflect rival political senti-
ment, evinced a lively interest in It.
This was confined, however. to MEM
bers of the Diet, the popular branch
OF the national legislature. In ac-
cordance with established tradition,
the princes OF the blood, just plain
princes, rlarquises, counts, viscounts.
barons. imperial nominees and the
highest taxpayers OF the House Of
Peers manifested neither assent nor
dissent, naturally taking their cue
from the Genro sages. Not SO with
the 464 members Of the Diet, which
controls the Government.
Rejecting the sentiment Of citizens
throughout the empire. the members
OF the Diet. as we'll as the local bosses
in the various provinces, began to line
solidly up back Of the armament con-
ference plan. Yamagata and his illus
trious associates in the Genro attempt
ed to head OFF the storms OF approval.
Every wire and political device which
usually succeeds in swaying the Jap
anese mind was resorted to. Mean
while the Government began to par
ley with Washington, London. Paris
and other capitals in an effort to make
terms that would prevent the opening
up OF facts accomplished" meaning
the violation OF Chinese territory and