South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-08-20
KATO CABINET IS
RAPIDLY GAINING
IN PUBLIC FAVOR
Baron Stands by His Promise
to Washington and Gets
Good Start.
By JAMES MILAN.
II. y. :. Stan Correspondent .


TOXIC. Aug. 19.-Nationwide
criticism that hailed the coming Of
the Kato Ministry has died away ex-
cept in the camp of the Kenseikai.
or opposition party, all in the space
OF a few weeks. Admiral Baron
Kato is a success as premier and his
ministers make the Cabinet a sue
cess at least temporarily
A liberal cabinet composed Of
bureaucrats. That sounds funny for
Japan. but nevertheless that is what
the KatO administration Is turning
out to be. While the cabinet does
delay development OF party govern
ment it can in no way be said to be
autOcratic in policies. so far accom-
plished or announced, despite the
fact that most OF its members come
from the conservative, bureaucratic
House of Peers.
Siberian Withdrawal Favored.
The Siberian trick did ii. at least
SO far as the press of the country
is concerned II must be said in all
fairness to Japan that armed occu-
patton of Siberia was a child Of the
imptialistic military party, the
Choshu clan, and that it was never
popular with the newspapers nor
with the mass Of the people. Never
theless former Premier Hara was
so closely allied with Prince Yama-
gaia and his clique that it became a
Seiyukai policy. In the Takahashi
Cabinet a feud developed between
the Foreign Ofice-COunt Uchida
favored withdrawal-and the War
Office. with the latter winning out.
II appears that when Admiral
Kato accepted the Premiership from
the Elder Statesmen he stipulated
that his promise given at Washing
ton and reiterated here upon his
return must be fulfilled. At any
rate. such was one of the first decis-
ions OF his ministry. Withdrawal
from Saghalien province followed. a.
also did an order to the delegates at
Picking to assess Shantung holdings
as low as possible and give China the
minimum price; orders for the full
fllment of naval reductions and the
working out OF a plan for army re-
duction These things-with q num-
Der of others of little more than
local interest-have learned for the
Kato Cabinet the name of beau
liberal and progressive. while the
newspapers and the leaders OF ma
tiOnal thought already begin 20 eN-
pect it 10 live a long life, in which
many things will be accomplished.
Seek SaghaIien settlement.
Closely linked with the Siberian
question has been that of Saghalien.
At the time of the Nikolaievsk mass.
acre Japan sent a brigade to the
province and 10 the northern or Rus
sian half of Saghalien Island 70 hold
that territory until indemnities for
the loss OF the 700 japanese lives
should be paid. Troops in the prov.
ince proper. where Nikolalevsk is
located. are 70 be withdrawn by the
end OF September. but the island is
still held pending settlement with a
competent Russian government.
1t is rumored that Japan is at
tempting, through informal chan
nels. 10 settle the NikOlaievsk in
cident with the Soviet. asking a
clear title 10 the island as repara-
tion for the massacre. Under the
present circumstances such a settle
ment would be profitable to Russia
too. for something of that sort Will
be the only way in which she viii
be accepted in good faith by Toxic.
Will Make KatO Solid
Should this be accomplished IL
VIII make the Kato Cabinet solid
with business interests in Japan.
which would increase its popularity
10 a point where political opposition
would mean little. The Cabinet now
is in a peculiar situation. as. al
though il has the avOwed backing
OF the Seiyukai. it is an open secret
that as soon as the party feels
strong enough after the Takahashi
blunder It will Gust Admiral Kato
and name a new party Ministry. The
record of this stop-gap Ministry so
far, coupled with indications for the
future, give rise TO the belief that the
Cabinet is soon TO be so deeply i'm
bedded that popular opinion will not
permit the Seiyukai to step in when