The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1925-10-09
JAPAN LEARNS
KATO IS REAL
FIGHTER
Fights for Tax Reforms and
Forces Opposition to
Quit
BY LUTHER A. HUSTON
international News Service

TOKYO, Oct. 9.-Japanese poll
ticians and observers of Japanese
politics are beginning to suspect
that, beneath the benign exterior
of Viscount. Takakira Kato, the
Prime Minister, there turks the
spirit of valiant fighter.
Several leaders of opposition poll,
tical parties have had occasion
very recently to observe that Pre-.
mier Kato is lamb-up to a GER
tain point. Beyond that point, he
is a raging lion. And withal, they
have learned. he is not to be.
sneezed at as a political tactician.
It became evident several months
ago, when General Baron Giichi
Tanaka resigned from the army to
become leader of the Seiyukai
party, that the end of the coali-
ton government, composed OF the
Kenseikaf, Seiyukai and Kakushin
Club and headed by Premier Kato,
was in sight It was recognized
that General Tanaka had political
ambitions that would make con-
tinued cooperation between his
party and the Kenseikai, of which
the premier is the leader, very diff
ficult.
What They Hoped
What the ambitious opposition
leaders fondly hoped-and expected
-wohld happen was that the coali.
ton cabinet would collapse, Premier
Kato would pass from office and
new government composed of stall
warts of the opposition would come
into being.
On July 81 a part of this came
to pass when the coalition cabinet
resigned after tempestuous dis
cussion of taxation policies. The
rest of the program, like the best
laid plans o'mice and men,, went
decidedly "agley.'' ViscOunt Kato
is still prime minister of Japan and
it would be very difficult to fore
tell when his tenure of office will
end.
When the dispute over Premier
Kato's taxation reform proposals
arose in the cabinet, the prime
minister patiently end g avore d
through several red-hot cabinet
sessions, to persuade his Seiyukal
colleagues to accept his point or
view, It was when he realized that
this was impossible that the lamb
like premier turned lion. He
forced the issue, long impending,
by demanding that the recalcitrant
Seiyukai ministers resign.
Takes Bold Step
The Seiyukai ministers and their
marty leaders were astounded. They
had not expected temerity or such
decisive action from the premier.
They angrily refused to tender the
demanded designations.
This refusal. under the japanese
system, compelled Premier Kato to
offer to the prince regent the
resignation of the entire cabinet.
This he promptly did and almost as
promptly the prince regent reap-
pointed Viscount Kato to the
premiership. Kato appointed three
members of his own party to flll
the portfolios previously held by
the Seiyukai and resumed business
at the same old stand with an ALI
Kenseikai ministry.
The tactical battle did not end,
however. with the reconstruction
of the cabinet. In breaking with
the Seiyukai, Premier Kato lost
what was ostensibly a working ma
jority in the lower house of the
Diet. To offset this, he immedi-
ately began negotiations for an
alliance with the Kenkyukai, the
strongest party in the House OF
Peers. These negotiations were
fruitful and several Of the leading
mmebers of the Kenkyukai ac-
cepted appointments as parliamen-
tary vice ministers in the Kato
cabinet. Thus the Kato ministry
virtually dominates the House OF
Peers.