Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1921-11-29
KAT0 DEFENDS
SHIP DEMAND
AS SAFEGUARD
Relatively Of Tonnage
Secondary to Linita-
ton of Arms, He Says.
Declares 20 Per Cent
Ratio Minimum for the
Safety of Japan.

Washington, Nov. 2S.-(By The AS
sociated ess.)-To safeguard prop
erty the interests of the Japanese en-
pire, the ratio of 20 per cent in tom
mage of capital ships is necessary,
Vice Admiral Kanjo Kato, president of
the japanese naval college and chief
naval adviser to the Japanese delega-
ton to the Washington conference,
said to The Associated Press Monday
night in an interview.
Vice Admiral Kate, who is regarded
as the leading Japanese authority on
naval strategy, declared that the main
issue for the conference on limitation
of armament was the reduction Of
armament burdens.
Japan accepts this issue whole
heartedly," he continued, "and il quite
prepared to scrap capital ships under
construction and old battleships. The
naval ratio is question of grave con-
hope the United States win accept the
70 per cent for Japan, which Is the
minimum of strength required for her
security"
In Full Agreement.
He remarked that the agreement to
limit ornaments must be accomplished
by thorough understanding of all
those participating.
Peoples of all countries" he said,
must be in full agreement. Other
wise, even though an agreement may
be made, it might create an unpleasant
feeling and defeat it's purpose. To
meet the desires of the Japanese peo-
pie, as to their national defense, be-
lieve that a 20 per cent ratio, as COM
pared with the United States and
Great Britain is necessary.
''The main issue in the limitation OF
ornaments. as I have stated above, is
to relieve the burdens Of the nations
Japan has shown her hearty accord to
the idea and has agreed to the whole
sale scrapping of capital ships, under
construction, as well as old ships. This
practically means that the great pur-
pose of the conference has been attain
ed, because it indicates that in the fu-
ture there will come about huge re-
ductions in naval expenditure.
Sacrifice Is Great
There is another point to which ]
would like to call you attention. When
you think about the sacrifice made by
the nations represented at this confer
cnce, it seems clear that the degree of
sacrifice is very great for Japan.
mean that it will be felt more keenly
by us than by the United States. be-
cause our industrial and shipbuilding
power cannot be compared to that of
America.
when it comes to national aspira-
tions and the general security of the
state, l believe it best for the country
concerned to decide what those national
aspirations are. and what security is
NEEDED to safeguard them. The pream-
BILE to the American proposals speci-
fically says that the United States be-
leves that the plan later presented
safeguards the interests of all concern
ed. Let me emphasize again that in
order to safeguard the interests of the
Japanese empire, 20 per cent is neces-
sary. If the ratio of 20 per cent is
accorded to Japan, this does not mean
the purpose OF the conference IL de-
feated, because, as have pointed out
before, the main purpose Of the present
meeting in Washington is limitation OF
armaments. The relativity Of tonnage
is not the principal issue"
In conclusion. Vice Admiral Kato
contended that the capacity OF Japan
to replace her warships was infinitely
less than that Of the United States.