Evening star., 1923-08-24
WAS ToGo'S RIGHT-HAND MAN
Premier Kato's Career Has Been
One of Public Service.

Premier kato attained his eminence
among the noted men of Japan as the
right hand man of AdmiralS Togo and
Kamimura in the Russo Japanese
war. He entered the war as a cap
tain and emerged as a rear admiral,
chief of staff of the first squadron of
the Japanese navy with the decora-
ti"n of the second class order of the
,uden kite.
Taking over the portfolio of the
navy in 1915. Baron kato became a
strong partisan Of the advancement
Of friendly relations between Japan
md the United States. At the Wash
ington arms conference. where he Was
a member Of the Japanese delegation,
he WAS credited with being one of the
Stl longest proponents of the naval
-,ccord treaty.
Admiral Baron Kato was confirmed
as premier OF Japan. June Il, 1922,
his cabinet succeeding that of Wis
count TakahaShi which resigned June
6 In a statement following his APP
pointmcnt to the high office, Premier
kato said:
In brief, Japan's foreign policy.
from which this cabinet will not de-
part, is to cooperate with the powers
IN the spirit as we'll as the letter of
the covenant of the league of nations
and the treaties and resolutions signed
1T Washington. with the view that
concord and friendship may develop
among the nations and that reduc-
tions of armaments may steadily
progress to relieve the difficulties and
burdens of mankind.'
Policy Of kato Regime.
That was the policy of the kato
government. He also had stated, fol-
lowing his appointment, with the sue
cessful conclusion of the Washington
conference, a new era of peace dawned
on the world 1t is the intention of
this government to fulfill the terms
agreed uDon by the powers. and to
this end to take the appropriate steps
in accord and cooperation with them.
Premier kato was born in Hiro-
shima Prefecture in 1861. He entered
the naval academy in 1873, and. after
graduating, was attached to the war
ship TSukuba for practical training.
He was appointed Sublieutenant in
1888. Promoted to the rank of lieu
tenant, he proceeded to San Francisco
with training squadron. He entered
the naval staff college upon his return
from America. from which institution
he graduated in 1889.
In 1891 he was appointed a staff Of
ficer, subsequently being dispatched to
London as superintendent of naval con-
struction. He returned to Japan in
1894, as an officer on the new warShip
YoShino. Upon the outbreak of the
Russo-JapaneSe war, kato went on ac-
tive service as d captain, and six
months later was promoted to the rank
OF rear admiral.
In 1905 he participated in the famous
battle of the Japan sea as chief of
staff for the first squadron. Upon the
restoration of peace he was decorated.
Promoted to Vice Admiral.
In 1906 when the Saionji ministry
was established Admiral kato was
appointed vice minister of the navy
and later promoted to vice admiral,
which post he held until 1909, when
he was appointed commander of the
kure naval port.
While vice minister of the navy he
was appointed councillor to the board
of the Anglo-Japanese exhibition and
also chief of the reception committee
appointed in connection with the
visit of the American squadron to
Japan. In 1913 he was appointed COM
mander of the first squadron and upon
the outbreak of the world war par
ticipated in the hostilities as COM
mander of the battleship Settsu.
When the Okuma ministry was
partially reconstructed in 1915 Ad-
miral kato was appointed minister of
the navy in succession to Admiral
Iashiro and was promoted to the
rank of full admiral the same year.
This portfolio he retained in the sub
sequently established Terauchi and