OKUMA Shigenobu and Hong Kong Governor John Pope Hennessy (1877-82), with family (OKUMA is third from left in back row) From "Okuma-haku 100wa"

In 1881 (Meiji 14), OKUMA Shigenobu delivered a secret memorial to the Emperor that was quite radical in nature, arguing for the adoption of a British-style parliament and the drafting of a constitution at the beginning of 1883 (Meiji 16). Moreover, it came at a time when divisions over fiscal policy were already becoming apparent, causing the rifts within the government to widen even more. At this juncture, public opinion was reaching the boiling point regarding the government's disposal of property held by Hokkaido Development officer. The clamor to halt the sale of government assets somehow ended up linked with the movement to establish a parliament. Many individuals close to OKUMA participated in that movement, and he was suspected of being one of the masterminds along with FUKUZAWA Yukichi. The government, forced to, put a halt to the sale of government assets and dismissed OKUMA from his post. At the same, an Imperial Rescript was issued calling for a national parliament to be established in 1890 (Meiji 23).

This document is OKUMA's memorial that was in the possession of the Emperor and had been copied by ITO in his own hand on June 1881.