Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1913.djvu/1132

 1010 JAPAN

counts, 375 viscounts, 384 barons) ; (4) persons above the age of 30 years, who have been nominated members by the Emperor for meritorious services to the State or for erudition ; (5) persons who shall havebeen elected in each Fu and Ken from among and by the 15 male inhabitants thereof, above the age of 30 years, paying therein the highest amount of direct national taxes on land, industry, or trade, and have been nominated by the Emperor. The term of membership under (3) and (5) is seven years ; under (1), (2), and (4) for life. The number of members under (4) and (5) must not exceed the number of other members.

The members of the House of Representatives number 379, a fixed number being returned from each electoral district. The proportion of the number of members to the population is one to about 136, 522. Voting is by secret single ballot. Electors are (1) male Japanese subjects of not less than full 25 years of age, (2) permanent and actual residents in the electoral district for not less than a year ; (3) and paying land tax to the amount of not less than 10 yen in a year for more than one year, or direct taxes other than land tax to the amount of not less than 10 yen in a year for more than two years or of land tax together with other direct national taxes to the amount of not less than 10 yen in a year for more than two years. In general, male Japanese subjects of not less than 30 years of age are eligible to the House of Representatives, without any qualification arising from payment of taxes. Disqualified for membership are the Imperial Household officials, priests, students, teachers of elementary schools, government contractors, election officials. The President and Vice-President of the House of Peers are nominated by the Emperor from among the members, and President and Vice-President of the House of Representatives are nominated by the Emperor from among three candidates, elected by the House. The Presidents of both Houses receive an annual salary of 5,000 yen; Vice-Presidents, 3,000 yen; elected and nominated members of the House of Peers and members of the House of Representatives, 2,000 yen, besides travelling expenses. The Imperial Diet, which must meet annually, has control over the finances.

House of Representatives, May, 1912 : Constitutional Party (SayukAvai) 217 ; Popular Party (Kokuminto) 96 ; Central Party (Chuoto), 32 ; Indepen- dents (Mushozoku), 37.

The Cabinet consists of the following members, (February 20, 1913) :—

Prime Minister. — Admiral Gombei Yaviamoto. Foreign Affairs. — Baron Nobuaki Makino. War. — Baron Kikoshi. Marine. — Baron Saito.

Minister of Finance. — Baron Korekiyo Takahashi. Agriculture and Commerce. — Mr. Tatsuo Yaviamoto. Justice. — Mr. Masahisa Matsvda. Interior and Railways. — Mr. Kei Hara. Education. — Mr. Sajima Motoda. Communications. — Mr. Gigin Okuda.

The Agreement between the United Kingdom and Japan, signed August 12, 1905 (renewed July 13, 1911) has for its purpose the maintenance of peace in Eastern Asia and India ; the preservation of the independence and integrity of China, and of the principle of equal opportunities for the commerce and industry of all nations in China, and the maintenance of the territorial rights and defence of the special interests of Great Britain and Japan in Eastern Asia and India. It provides for frank inter-communication between the two Governments if their rights or interests are threatened, and for mutual assistance in case of unprovoked attack or aggressive action on the part of any other power. Great Britain recognises the right of Japan to control and protect Korea, the principle of equal opportunities In Korea for the