New-York tribune., 1918-03-11
The Idle Shipyards Of Japan
Japanese Statement of Our Refusal Give Her Steel Build
Us Million Tons of Ships
NJ. Togo, IN the March North American RevieaV

placed at the disposal of the Allies. This
programme, however, contemplated too long
a time, so all programmes were postponed,
causing delay.
Japan then proposed that if the United
States would give her 100000 tons of steel
10000 in 1917 and 100000 this year-she
would in return supply the United States
with 100000 tons of ships in 1917, and q
tonnage of 100000 between January, 1915
and September, 1919. During that period
Japan expected to build with American ma
terial not less than 1,35o,o0O tons, retaining
G00000 tons for her own purposes and for
the other Allies The United States again
refused, and made counter proposal.
The Final Proposal
The counter proposal was that, beginning
with last November, Japan should deliver
to the United States 100000 tons of ships
at the rate Of 100000 tons month for ten
months, thu. Shipping Board to pay for them
at the rate Of S17O ton and Japan to be
allowed to receive the 100000 tons of steel
she had contracted for. This meant that
most of the million tons to be sold to the
United States would have to come out Of
shipping already aaoat, as by September
1913 the japanese could not build more
than 100000 or 100000 tons out of the
Amercan material. Moreover, s170 ton
British shipping were willing to pay
as much $40O ton did not look very
attractive
Japans latest proposal was that she would
turn over 10000 tons of existing ships to
the United States, and between that time
and next August 200 900 tons more built from
American material, if America would sup
ply her with only 175.000 tons of steel. from
which total of $4,000 tons of ships could
be built This proposal was accepted by
the United States, subject to the conditions
that none of the existing ships should be
less than seven years old, and that the
price should be $170 a ton for existing shps
and $500 ton for ships
rms would have made the average price
received by Japan for these $4,000 tons of
shlps S1S7, against the British offer of s4oo
a ton, and would have thus entailed a sacri-
nc nee OF S2l3 ton, or total of S74, $50 600.
me 10000 tons of steel which the United
States agreed to supply under these onerous
conditions would suffice to build 5o5 ono
tons OF ships, but as Japan had to part with
oooooO tons of ships to secure the steel the
net addition to Japanese bottoms wonld
nave been only 175,000 tons. At this time
"hen lew foreign ships are visiting Jan
anese shores, Japan is sadly in need Of bot
toms' and she rejected the proposal on tho
score or both eXpediency and the financial
sacr'nce she would be forced to make.
Only One Thing Lacking
Japan has the facilities to build a mill
aom tons of ships yeor. She has the
framed labor. She lacks the raw material
the steel plates and shapes. Until the
entry of the United States into the war
american steel was relied upon to enable
Japan to build her ships. Japan does not
manufacture the same articles as the United
states. She has not the same raw materials
10 export. In view of Americas gigantic
shiphuilding programme she will not for
oecades, II ever, have or need as large
merchant marine as the United States.
AT the present juncture, Japan could
charter her whole merchant marine to her
alnes, II this were possible without starving
her people and running her trade. But be-
cause she cannot give her allies greater
proportion of her ships now they are in
effect refusing to allow her to build more
SHIPS, which she could put into their service.
The Japanese do not understand why, if
ships are invaluable, the United States is
wasting time making them propositions
which no nation could or would accept, thus
paraiyzng their shipbuilding industry,
They do not understand why, if there Is
coordination Of effort among the Allies.
England IS bidding more than tavicc as
much as the United States for Japanese
snaps. 1t Is true that Japan cannot build
ships rapidly without American steel bu.
she has offered to sacrifice 80 per cent and
more of the market price of the ships to
get the steel, and has been unable to got
even the steel contracted for before the
United States entered the war, although this
government has admitted that it has this
much surplus steel and it should be deliv
cred to Japan as a matter of equity and
Tpral right.