New Party

A storm was brewing in Japan and, as its result, the fall of the Coalition Government of Viscount Kato was prophesied.

The Government is supported by the Kenseikai, Seiyukai and Kakushin Club Parties, having among them 295 seats out of 464 in the House of Representatives.

A short time ago, Minister of Commerce Takahashi, President of the Seiyukai Party, resigned. Shortly after, General Baron Tunaka resigned from the Army, became President of the Seiyukai in succession to Takahashi, resigned. Naturally, Premier Kato offered him the vacant Ministry of Commerce, but his offer was refused. Other Cabinet offices were offered, but all were refused. Nevertheless, the General, who was once Minister of War under the late (assassinated) Premier Hara, announced that his assumption of the Seiyukai Presidency would in no sense disturb the Coalition.

It transpired, last week, however, that the General has succeeded in amalgamating three parties: Seiyukai, Kakushin (Reform) Club, Chuseikai, which gives him 150 seats and raises the new Party second in strength to the Kenseikai with 159 seats.

But this was not all. The General began to treat with the Opposition, explicitly the Seiyu-Honto Party, which, as an indirect result of the murder of Premiar Hara in 1921, split from the Seiyukai in January, 1924. The significance of this last move, coming as it does on top of the others, was that it would, if successful, give General Tanaka no less than 250 seats, or an absolute majority of the House of Representatives. It was therefore argued, as the move seemed likely to succeed, that the days of the Kato Cabinet are numbered, although doubtless it will remain in office until the winter session, which begins in December.