SATURDAY, SEPT. 5, 1896. MARQUIS ITO OF JAPAN.

Hastings Standard, Issue 113, 5 September 1896, Page 2

SATURDAY, SEPT. 5, 1896. MARQUIS ITO OF JAPAN.

The events in the far east be they ever so trivial have an interest all the world round. The renationalisation of Jfcpan has been quick and marvellous, and since the war with China, the Japanese have won the admiration and esteem of the western nations. Japan is the Great Power in the east, bus the question of supremacy as Between England, Russia and Japan has settled. It is probably due to thitfntft and to the enormous interests involved therein, that every incident in the far east is carefully watched. The present condition of Japan is due mainly to the Marquis Ito, the Prime Minister of Japan up to a few days ago, as we were informed by cable that the statesman had resigned. The great eastern politician has been brought within range of the übiquitous interviewer, and a correspondent of the London Daily News gives in the polonjns of that journal the results of an interview with the Marquis. The ex-Prime Minister is described by this writer as ♦'a ti&e, short, kindly faced man,

speaking slow and careful English, clad in plain frock coat, and 'with a perpetual cigar between his lips." The Prime Minister of Japan holds the highest position in the Empire next to the Mikado himself, and, according to the interviewer, " this position which he has won for himself and held for many years is due to his curious capacity for compromise and his now and again masterly inactivity. He is a remarkable mixture of resolution and hesitancy and yet a man who rarely fails to take the tide at its full." The correspondent goes on to say : "He told me a few particulars of his early life, and how he had more than once visited England and Germany in order that he might carefully study European constitutional government, and of his participation on his return from his first visit, in the work of the Great Restoration. He spoke also of his share, a very important one, in the final abolition of the Tycoon and of mediaeval feudalism ; his creation of the present army and navy ; his first attempt at the revision of treaties ; the great Satsuma Rebellion, the framing of the present constitution and the part he played in the present great war, which was absolutely under his control." Marquis Ito has retired from the sphere of active politics, temporarily only we may be sure, as now that the man who held him in check and cut short his ambitions is dead, it is not improbable that he will be called upon to again take the helm and steer the ship. The death of the Russian Foreign Minister, Prince Lobanoff, will very possibly make a difference to Japan, and the strong man of the Empire will be needed to guide and direct the policy of the nation to keep it clear of entanglements, and to uphold its honor and dignity. The resignation of the Marquis Ito of the Premiership is apparently due to home politics, and he partly foretold the possibility of his resignation to his interviewer. The Marquis is reported to have said, " We have no aggressive policy, not even with regard to Corea. All we desire is to keep foreign Powers, who would be a menace to .us, away from it. Just at this moment my hands are quite full, and our home politics provide us with plenty to doThe question has lately arisen in our Parliament concerning the responsibility of Ministers. At present we are responsible only to the Emperor. The Opposition urge that we should be responsible to the Diet also, and if the Cabinet is opposed steadily by a majority in the Lower House the result is as it would be in England, and we have to give way or go. Our strength is in the Upper House. I am the Minister - President of the Upper House ; in my hands is the government of the country, and I am responsible for all that has taken place even for the present condition, and the new civilisation of Modern Japan." The Minister-President has been deprived of his responsibility, and we may fairly conclude that the Opposition has triumphed.