ABSTRACT
BARON SHIDEHARA’S liberal policy toward China invited a vigorous opposition from the more conservative groups in and out of the Imperial Diet. The dissatisfaction was particularly pronounced among the more conservative members of the Privy Council. This opposition on the part of the councilors to the “weak” policy toward China was partly responsible for their rejection of an emergency imperial ordinance on April 17, 1927, prepared by the Wakatsuki cabinet to rescue the Bank of Japan. The immediate effect of this action of the Council was the resignation of the Minseito ministry.1
