The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1921-10-31
JAPAN'S PREMIER
GIVES HIS VIEWS
ONDTARMAMENT
Hopes to Settle Shantung
And Siberian Problems
By Negotiations.

Special Gable 70 TAs Washington Hsrald.)
TOKYO. Oct. 3O.-The Herald's
correspondent has secured an inn
portant interview with Premier
Hara, of Japan, who discussed
frankly the washington issues.
speaks no English, the questions
were submitted In writing and his
answers were translated into Eng
lisb and the interview was submit
ted to the cabinet before IL was re-
turned to the correspondent. There
fore Il represents the full view of
the government and II indicates
that Japan's stand on disarmament
viii be based on coast lines and
the problems which 1t involves
rather than on population, revenues
or or other angles which have been
suggested.
Q. What are Japan's aims at the
conference?
A Japan accepted President Hard
ing's invitation prompted solely by
a strong desire to bring about
thorough and harmonious co-opera-
tion with the United States and
other powers and to make whatever
contribution she can toward the re-
alization of the lofty ideals the
President had in view in calling the
conference. No nation is more vi
tally interested than Japan in the
maintenance of peace in the Pacific
and the Far East
Wants interests Recognized.
Q. Should disarmament be based
on population or what method
should govern an equitable reduc-
ton?
A Japan sincerely hopes an out
spoken exchange of Views on the
subject of disarmament, as well as
the Pacific and Far East problems.
may result in a furtheranCe Of a
good understanding among the
powers concerned and in the recog-
milton of the legitimate interests of
each power represented at Wash
ington. At the same time Japan
believes that an equitable reduction
should be based on a sole considera-
ton of national security, having due
regard not merely to the area or
population but to the length of the
littoral lines, the geographical or
typographical conditions, etc, of the
country in question.
O. Would a status quo Of the
present navies be acceptable or
should some other proportion be
reached, either by further building
certain navies or reduction OF
others?
National Defense First Duty.
A Whether a status quo Is ac-
ceptable or some other proportion
should be arranged depends entirely
on whether the existing ratio is ne
cessitated by requirements of ma
tional defense. as the paramount
duty of the navy of this or any
other country should be the pro-
lection of the nation against pos
sible foreign aggression. Japan is
prepared to accept reduction of her
navy If. and as long as, the exigen-
cies of her national defense are
thereby duly satisfied.
Q. To what extent should fortif-
cations in the Pacific be reduced as
a guarantee to peace?
A. The Pacific Notifications should
be reduced in accordance with the
same considerations as indicated
before.
Q. Are not economic and similar
questions the basis of all arma-
ments and should not these be set
tied first: China and the Far East
ern republic having refused negO-
tiatiOns. what is the best method
Of adjusting the Shantung and Sibe-
rian questions: with these questions
disposed of, what other questions
disturb the peace of the Orient and
what is the best means of adjust
ment?
Claims Rights in Shantung.
A. The Japanese are firmly con-
WINGED Of the justice of their case
in the Shantung question No effort
has been and will be spared on the
part of Japan to settle this question
to our mutual satisfaction, it being
our constant hope that China will
embark on negotiations in a con-
ciIiatory spirit and settle this ques-
ton once and for all on the con-
dftiOns laid down in our recent
communications. As to Siberia.
Japan is still in the course of negO-
tfations with the Far Eastern re-
public and it is expected that a de-
timing settlement will be arrived at
before long.
Copyright, 1871