Kido advised the Emperor to remain silent at first and leave the questions to Privy Council President Hara; he had already instructed Hara what these should be. But once the discussion was over, the Emperor should break precedence. He should cease to reign, that is, and momentarily rule: “Instruct the Chiefs of Staff to co-operate with the government in making the negotiations successful.” Only through such a dramatic break in tradition could the disastrous deadline policy be reversed.
