The New York herald., 1921-10-10
Continued from First Page.


to negotiate for the purpose.
Japan has accordingly been COM
PEELED to follow precedent in interna-
tional law in occupying q few points
in the province until a legitimate Gov
ernment might be established in Rus
sia. This procedure Is due to the duty
Of the Government to protect the SUBJ
jects of its own country and to keep
the prestige Of the State intact, and
Is Of course different thing from the
maintenance Of troops in Vladivostok
and district.
5. 1t is unthinkable that the United
States. a country whose traditional
policy is one of justice, humanity and
peace, and which has friendly rela-
tions with Japan. should assume a
hostile attitude toward her vital in
terests. If the Government and peo-
pie Of the United Ttates fully under
stand Japan's legitimate interests and
her ardent aspirations for the worlds
peace. especially for the peace of the
Pacific and the Far East, and If with
similar aspirations the United states
sincerely exchange views with Japan
believe that the Pacific and Far
Eastern problems will be solved in a
manner compatible with the interests
and honor of both countries.
Questions Submitted to Kato.
The questions addressed by me to
his EXcellency Admiral Baron Kato
Imperial Minister of the Navy, were
as follows:
/. In view of the fact that the i'm
perial empire Of Japan is at peace
with the other nations Of the world
do you believe that the policy OF the
Japanese Government In setting aside
81 per cent. Of its budget appropria-
tons for the support Of the navy ie
advisable?
2. Would the abandonment Of the
Eight Eight" construction plan, de-
cided on by your department, expose
the imperial empire to the possible
danger Of an attack from the navies
Of all the nations?
3. Would you care to say whether
the reports that under the direction Of
the imperial Japanese navy. certain
Japanese possessions in the Pacific
/ Gotably the Bonin Islands) and terri
tory inundated to Japan have been
actually fortified Cor are to be) are
justified by the facts?
4. Do you regard the assignment by
the United ~tates Government OF it's
most important sea units as involving
any menace to japanese interests In
Asiatic or Pacific waters?
s. Do you favor the negotiation Of
agreements between the most impor-
tant sea powers of the world, as sug-
gested by President Harding Of the
United States Government, and to
what extent should it be carried out?
Secretary Kato's Response.
The replies made by the Secretary
Of the imperial navy were as follows:
i. The japanese Government and
people yield to none in wishing peace.
Obviously, however. all countries, ir-
respective of their national resources.
must first and foremost see to their
self-preservation. Lacking the means
Of self-protection, a country must exist
at the mercy Of other. countries, and
such existence would be precarious in
deed. -
Japan prides herself on history of
over two thousand five hundred years
of perfect independence and her people
are conscious Of the great RESPONSE
bility which that precious heritage
lays upon their shoulders
The Imperial navy, while by no
means preparing against any particu-
lar country, cannot lose sight OF its
paramount duty Of protecting the ma
ton against possible foreign aggres-
sion. That is the sole motive and aim
of the naval policy of Japan. That
our naval appropriation for the cur
rent year had to amount to tho high
figure Of o0.Ooo.oo0 yen is much to be
regretted, but 1t was necessitated by
the requirements OF national security.
2. AS stated above, the Imperial
navy has no imaginary enemy in view
and its function Is purely defensive.
But for the purposes of efficient de-
fence due regard must always be had
to the naval strength which other
Powers are able to send to the Far
East. From that standpoint It would
bc CicdIiy HDPI AOi liC taPuiiOoO
navy to alter its eight-eight pro-
gramme Of construction without re-
gard to other flavies.
3. Fortifications on the Bonin Islands
are now in course Of construction, but
they are not under the jurisdiction of
the navy. but that Of the army. No
Notifications have been erected or are
under contemplation on the islands
assigned to Japan under the system. 1t
is prohibited by the Versailles Treaty
to fortify these islands.
4. The despatch by the United
States of powerful fleet to the Pacific
is not matter for japan to pass any
criticism upon.
s. 1t goes without saying that Japan
would welcome a naval agreement
among the naval Powers. The Japa-