ABSTRACT
THE one good point about the Kiyoura Government was that it did not condescend to manipulate the general election which followed its dissolution of the Diet, but the results of that election demonstrated its unpopularity and the impossibility of continuing in office, so, on June 6, 1924, the Cabinet resigned. The split in the Seiyukai had brought about a curious grouping of the parties. The Kenseikai won 146 seats, the Seiyuhonto (schismatics from the Seiyukai) 120, and the Seiyukai 101. The Kakushin Club, not yet having formed any political affiliation, secured 30 seats; the Business Party, which alone had a definite platform, had 8, and there were 57 Independents. It was clearly time that the Kenseikai should have an innings, but even if the Independents were all purchased, it had no security. A curious compromise was effected, Viscount Takahashi (now a commoner again, having resigned his peerage) consenting to become Minister of Agriculture and Commerce, though he had lately been Premier, and Mr. Inukai, who had also held higher office, becoming Minister of Communications. Thus the acquiescence of the Seiyukai and Kakushin Club was secured, though the most important offices were held by Kenseikai men. The Home Minister was Mr. Wakatsuki, the Finance Minister Mr. Hamaguchi, and the Foreign Minister Baron Shidehara. It was often referred to as the Mitsubishi Government, Viscount Kato, the Premier, and Baron Shidehara both being closely connected by marrage with the house of Iwasaki, the controllers of the Mitsubishi firm.
