The Washington herald., 1921-11-13
JAPAN AGREES
TO PRINCIPLES
OF NAVALPLAN
Her Definite Answer Will
Await Reports of
Experts.
PROGRAM LOGICAL,
PRINCE DECLARES.
Chief Delegate Praises
Hughes Suggestion as
Most Complete.

suggestion of the United States for !
limiting naval armaments.
Her people demand such a limi- |
tation and the delegates assembled
here will bow to their will.
Japanese experts are investigat-
ing exactly what the proposed cut
would mean. When they make their
report Japan will take a definite
position and either accept the pro-
posal in its entirety or else sub
NIT a substitute. If a substitute is
submitted 1t will call for actual
reductions.
This was made plain by Prince
Iyesato Tokugawa, president Of
the Japanese house Of peers and
chairman of the Japanese delega-
ton to the conference, and his
chief associate. Admiral Tomosa-
buro Kato. Japanese minister OF
marine. in a conference with The
Herald correspondent last evening.
Proposition-''Most Complete
The Japanese statesmen reiterat-
ed their previous statement that
they intended to do all in their
power to make the conference
success. Prince Tokugawa, at the
outset of his remarks, said:
The proposition that was sub
mitted to the conference by its
chairman. Secretary Hughes, is the
most complete and logical that n
ever have heard. Whether Il win
prove altogether acceptable de-
pends, of course. on the study that
Is being made by our naval experts.
i have not completely familiarized
myself with all of the details set
forth by the American delegation.
Therefore cannot say, until I
have the report Of the Sxperts- IN
my hands, what the Japanese re-
ply will be. I can say, however,
that I am in favor of the general
principles and myself and my as
sociates will be prepared to carry
them out to whatever extent is
possible"
Prince Tokugawa saw no particular
reason why the naval program should
be held up while the other matters.
especially the Far Eastern and Pacific
puzzles, were being considered. An
agreement on the naval limitations. he
said, could be reached quite independ-
emily Of the Far Eastern angles.
II can see no reason why we need
to halt action on the suggestions Of
Mr.. Hughes" he continued. '"They
are entirely independent Of all other
matters. If the proposition as sett
forth by Mr. Hughes simplifies some
of the other questions. why that is so
much the better. We are prepared TO
take up the questions as they are
proposed"
Are Island Bases Naval.
Prince Tokugawa was asked whether |
Japan considered the matter of aban-
doning advanced bases in the Pacific
such as the islands taken from Ger
many, which were inundated to Japan
by the league of nations and which
are fortified, as included in a naval
program or whether they were re-
garded more from a military stand |
point. The question seemed to AFFORD
him some quiet amusement.
THAT, like many other matters that
are to be discussed" he said. will
have to be a matter Of Interpretation.
Therefore, all will depend on the In
terpretation that the American delega-
tion will place upon 1t when 1t Is
brought up in the committees and on
the conference floor. We must await
the Interpretation so made. We have
no right to go any further"
Discussion Premature.
The Prince told his visitors that on
matters of this sort his delegation had
no desire to anticipate. They want
to do all that they possibly can to
assist in a complete agreement in the
conference and in expediting its work.
Rut they consider 1t an impropriety
n discuss anything that has not been
oescially laid before them IN open con-
Sorence or in the meetings OF the com
-,Ittees. He was asked how long II
wouId take his experts to analyze the
Hughes proposals, but merely smiled
ard said that would be impossible 10
say. 60 cav
whether the proposals might De
r,ade political issue in Japan
foIIed utterly. With marked SIN
cerity he again said:
.SThe entire people of japan
y,yors a limitation of armaments.
on this there is agreement every
where. This being so, Of course
we. as representatives of our gov
srnment, must favor all plans that
will provide that end without sac
rJfcing things we cannot give up.
This is not political question
at all" -
while the Japanese delegates
ware explaining their position their
military and naval experts were
husIly engaged in completely dis
secting the Hughes proposals. This
means much to Japan. Her experts
have hoped that they would not
have to throw on the scrap heap
their new battle cruisers and
super per-dreadnaughts. But the pres
sure in. Japan resulting from the
u unfavorabel economic situation and
the enormous tax burden on the
people Is very marked. If relief
il not afforded the people possibili-
ties of extreme anarchistic upris-
lnEs loom large, Therefore 1t is
believed that the Japanese will, II 4
they do not agree entirely with the
American position. prepare a coun-
Ter plan that also will make for
sharp limitations Of naval pro-
grams.