Japanese diplomat and statesman who helped secure an increase in the naval strength allotted to Japan at the 1930 London Naval Conference. The increase, however, was not large enough to satisfy the Japanese Navy. From 1936 to June 1945, as imperial household minister, Matsudaira was an adviser to the emperor. As such he initially tried unsuccessfully to influence Japanese policy, which seemed headed for a collision with the United States, in a moderate direction. After World War II he became first chairman of the Diet (parliament) under the new constitution (1947).