The Washington times., 1923-03-09
To QUIT
AS JAPAN )
DIET ENDS
Premier Maintains Composure
in Face Of Frequent
Enemy Attacks.
BY international News Service.


TOKYO, March 9.-The first
weeks OF the annual Diet session
have failed to make dent in the
front displayed by the administra-
ton of Admiral Baron Kato, the
premier. The opposition in both
houses repeatedly requested that
the premier assume responsibility
for this or that thing and, with his
cabinet, resign. But the cool voice
Of Baron Kato always replied firmly
in the negative. In fact, he is
changed but little, save that illness
and the cares Of state have added
to his gray hairs and the wrinkles
on his face.
After Cabinet, Too.
The privy council is out after the
cabinet, too. If necessary. but the
only scalp really sought is that of
Count Uchida, minister of foreign
affairs. Japan has been gripped re-
Gently by a so-called critical dis
pute between the cabinet and the
privy council. The public has
swung this way and that. but, to
all outward appearances, the cabinet
was not perturbed beyond discus
sion of the matter. The dispute
came when the cabinet, pursuing
Premier Kato's Washington con-
ference policy, negotiated a treaty
with China for the withdrawal or
Japanese post offices from China
and did not consult the privy coun-
Gil until the agreement was signed.
Few treaties have been concluded
in this manner. For the most part
the privy council consists OF gray
haired statesmen whose former part
in government affairs makes them
think they should be consulted on
every move by the cabinet.
Explanations and apologies settled
the matter, after the privy coun-
Gil appealed to the throne, and the
Prince Regent, so far as is known,
upheld Premier Kato. Then the
council discovered that at one time
the government said the treaty
became effective upon its signature
at Picking and at another time de-
clared it went into force when the
Prince Regent gave his SANCTION.
The cabinet refused to Gust Count
but the. matter was settled
until the Diet isO over.
Council Powerful.
While functioning but little, the
privy council has great powers,
and to incur its displeasure means
trouble for any administration. For
that reason it is lucky for Premier
Kato that he has smoothed things
over for the time being. When the
Diet ends that. body probably will
go, after Count Uchida.
That suits Premier Kato per.
fectly-and the Seiyukai. majority
party, too. But he expects to beat
them to it. The premier has
planned for months that his minis
try should retire from office upon
of the Diet session. pro-
vided the Seiyukai is strong enough
at that time to resume. the reigns
of government. Unless some mis-
hap should cause the majority
party trouble it will organize
cabinet in the latter part of April
or the first Of May and, with the
aid of the surviving Genro, be
ready to take over the government
when Premier Kato retires. And
he will resign when the Seiyukai-
and the Genro-tell him to do so,
for a number of reasons, among
which is his own conviction that
his non-party government is retard-
ing the progress of constitutional
government in Japan. OF course,
in a pinch lack of such a convic-
ton wouldn't save him, but he has
it, anyway.