The Washington times., 1921-11-04
KOREAN BOY IS
S[AYEROF HARA,
JAP PREMIER
Continued from First Page0

Continued from First Page.0
a member of the staff of the Hochi.
He went to Korea as a newspaper
correspondent with the Marquis Inous,
special envoy, in 1882.
Upon returning, Hara entered the
foreign office and was sent to Tien.
Tsin as consul. In 1885 he served as
secretary and charge daffaires at
the japanese legation in Paris. Fol-
lowing this service he became private
secretary to Count Mutsu, when he
was minister Of agriculture and com
merce.
Commercial Bureau Head.
Hara's next official position was
that Of director OF the Commercial
Bureau at the Foreign Office, from
which post he was promoted to that
Of vice-minister Of the department in
1895 IN the following year Hara was
made minister TO Korea. resigning
from that position to become chief
editor OF the Osaka Mainichi.
In 1900. he succeeded the late Hoshi
as Minister Of Communication, serving
for one year. then becoming chief
editor OF the Osaka Shimpo and later
minister of the home department
under the Sainoji cabinet, 1906 to 1908
III was d6dll
minister, and president of the Imperial
Railway Board. and in 1918 was home
minister for a third time.
Takashi Hara had been premier of
Japan since September 30. 1918. He
was a leader Of the Sayukswi govern
ment party. The premier headed the
japanese government during a time
when questions of worldwide import
ance were pending in the Orient.
Framed Arms Policy.
His policy was strongly anti Bolshe.
vik, but ne consistently contended
Nthat Japan had no aggressive or war
like aims either in Siberia or China.
He played an important part in ere.
ating the Japanese policy TO he fol.
lowed at the Washington conference,
and in public interview he pro.
nounced all talk OF possible war he.
tween Japan and America to be "ab
solutely baseless."
What effect on the political situa-
ton the assassination may have, II
was said today. depended largely upon
the details OF the crime. II the mur.
der was committed by a maniac, II
probably would have no effect whatso.
ever, but II II were committed by a
political enemy the consequences
might be far.reaching.
The death OF the premier finds two
of the most important men in Japan
ese public life in Washington, thou.
sands OF miles away from Tokyo, in
what admittedly may be a political
crisis.
Prince Tokugawa, head OF the Jap.
anese conference delegation, has been
prominently mentioned for the premier.
ship when the Hara ministry was
under attack, and at one time was
suggested as a compromise" candi.
date for the post.
Baron (AdmiraD Kato, minister Of
marine, who ranks second to the
prince in the delegation here, occupies
"a place scarcely less conspicuous In
political japan.
Called = "Mllitarist."
II has frequently been charged, in
Japan and abroad that Hara was the
leading exponent OF Japanese "mili-
tarism," and that II was largely cue
to his efforts and those of his col.
leagues that Japan has pursued so
vigorous and aggressive foreign pol.
Icy.
This, however, was characterized by
Japanese heer today as an untrue por.
trait of the premier. II was denied
that he was "militaristic" in his poll.
cies or his administration.
News of the traRdy was communi.
Gated to Secretary OF state Hughes
RS he emerged from the Cabinet
meeting at the White House.
1T Ia shocking and very sad" ha
said, as he hurried 10 the State
Department