New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1921-11-18
Experts Fear u. S. Might
Get Advantage by Scrap
ping Warships - Also
Worry at Possible Labor
Effect.
Officials There Fear
Anglo-Jap Pact Doomed

Toxic, Nov. 1S.--CEy Associated
Press) with the fading of the first
enthusiasm over the anticipated relief
OF armament burdens, a spirit Of cad
uon has developed in Japan, with the
inclination to look for d possible al
vantage to the United States in it's
proposal for ten year naval holiday
ana limitation of navies
Expressions favorng a more eoual
balance of power have become the
conspicuous note IN public expressions
concerning the scheme, with the prob
able disturbance of labor conditions
as secondary consideration.
L. S. Has Advantage.
Inc sacrifice of warshlps aggrcgat-
ing 100000 tons by Japan would he
equal TO the scrapping of 1900, 900
tons by the United States, japanese
analyslsts declare, on the ground that
IN an emergency the United States
could replace her lost tonnage within
thlrd or even a fifth of the tin
required by Japan with her limited
lacllltles. Neither do the experts be-
lleVe that fair estimate of strength
can be reached on Il tonnage basis,
put by considering also the speed
Oh the vessels and their age
Japan Far Behind,
1t is pointed out tha. the American
proposals would leave the Unitpd
States five capital ships constructed
between 1914 and 1916 while with
the exception Of the Nagato. Japan's
would all be of the period prior to
1918.
1t is admitted that the Jopnnese
navy would be superior to the h1ner;-
can In speed through the elimination
ol cruisers, put the experts declare
that IN all else the plan would favor
the United States. Some members of
the admiralty are credited with ey-
pressing the belief that he Japanese
fleet should aggregate IS per cent of
the American total all being consid-
cred. Naval writer's EXPRESSING the
opinion that the United States will
not take the position that its prc,o-
sails are not subject to auenimcnt.
see fair prospect for an amicable
adjustment.
Concessions by Z. $.
Concessions by the United States in
regard to Pacific fortifcations as an
offset to what is generally coming to
be regarded as the unfair ratio of
naval strength, are suggested by
Baron Tochiatsu Sakamoto, an infu- |
entail member of the house Of peers
in an article in the Asahi Shimbun.
He declares that the ratio should be |
II battleships for Japan to IS for the
United States, instead of ten to IS. He |
says further that, under The Hughes !
plan, with Japan retaining only one |
of the uper-dreadnaught type, the |
Nagato against Americas three, ia
pans ratio would be reduced to an
proXimately ten to 20. A fairer bal
ance, he argues, might be secured in
a different decision namely, the fort-
fcation of the Pacific, which he SAYS
1t is important to discuss together
with the question of eliminating ell
naval bases which menace Japan.
Fear Social Effect.
M. Soyeda, director of the labor
and capital coordination society, de-
clared that in his view the carrying
out of the proposals would have the
sravest social effect. He expresses
belief that Japan should act with
caution regarding a step involving a
'adical change in conditions affecting
he social welfare.
The Hochi Shinbun considers there
has been a serious omission in the
proposals inasmuch as restriction Of
lerial possibilities is not touched
lpon. There has been striking de-
'elopment in that department in AM
'rica says this newspaper and it de-
lares the Americans attach greater
Importance to aerial supremacy than
O dreadnaughts. 1t expresses the hope
hat the United States will propose
qually drastic restrictions along these
ines.
Anglo-Jap Pact Doomed.
Attention is also given by the COM
lentators to Far Eastern questions
.mong the views given arc those of
teiiiro Wakatsuki, former minister of
nance who takes it for granted that !
ne Anglo-Japanese alliance is !
oomed and foresees the possibility of ,
in the nature of a three :
over entente in its place. r
The sooner the Japanese troops are
.ithdrawn from Siberia the better 7
Or Japan, says NJ. Wakatsuki =
'Opp Man Named tn Re "