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Marquess Katsura, Taro, (1847 - 1913) was a Japanese soldier, Japanese
politician and Prime Minister.
He was born in 1847 in Choshu. He commenced his career by fighting under
the Imperial banner in the civil war of the Restoration, and he displayed
such talent that he was twice sent at public expense to Germany (1870-1873
and 1884) to study strategy and tactics. His political rise was assisted by
Yamagata Aritomo. In 1886 he was appointed vice-minister of war, and in 1891
the command of division devolved on him. He led the Japanese army in the
campaign of 1894-95 against China, and made a memorable march in the depth
of winter from the north-east shore of the Yellow Sea to Haicheng, finally
occupying Niuchwang, and effecting a junction with the second army corps
which moved up the Liaotung peninsula. For these services he received the
title of viscount. After holding war minister in 1898, he held the portfolio
of war from 1898 to 1901, when he became Prime Minister and retained office
for four and a half years, which was a record in Japan in that time. During
his four year first term Japan emerged as a major power in Asia, marked by
the Anglo-Japanese Alliance of 1902 and the defeat of Russia in 1905, the
Taft-Katsura agreement of 1905 with Great Britain gave Japan control of
Korea. From those diplomatic accomplishments, Katura received from King
Edward the grand cross of the order of St Michael and St George, and being
raised by the mikado to the rank of marquess. He was a strictly conservative
politician that he distanced himself from the Diet and political parties and
saw his sole responsibility to the Emperor. In Janaury 1906, Katsura
resigned the premiership to Marquess Saionji Kimmochi over the Treaty of
Portsmouth (1905) of peace between Japan and Russia. He was again invited to
form a cabinet in 1908. His second term was marked by the full annexation of
Korea (1910). His brief reappointment as Prime Minister in December 1912,
replacing Saionji Kimmochi over a military crisis, was seen as a plot by the
genro group and precipitated a political crisis. Faced with a non-confidence
motion Katsura sought imperial intervention. He lost the support of his
backers and was forced to resign in February 1913. He was succeeded by
Yamamoto Gonnohoe and the Diet was held by the new Rikken Doshikai party.
Katsura might be considered the chief exponent of conservative views in
Japan. Adhering strictly to the doctrine that ministries were responsible to
the emperor alone and not at all to the diet, he stood wholly aloof from
political parties, only his remarkable gift of tact and conciliation
enabling him to govern on such principles.
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