Hara Takashi
Bassompierre experienced the Great Kanto earthquake on 1 September 1923, and was involved in the Belgian relief effort for Japan. Bassompierre also witnessed the rise of Japanese militarism during his tenure. As foreign diplomat in Japan, he was confronted with incidents such as the murder of the Japanese prime minister Hara Takashi in November 1921, the Manchurian Incident in 1931 and the establishment of the Manchukuo in 1932, the May 15 Incident in 1932, and the February 26 Incident in 1936.