The Cook County news-herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Cook County, Minn.) 1909-current, 1921-12-08
far from home waters. -
Airplane Carries Offensive.
The Jananoco nynortc hro,I01t I'm


The Japanese experts brought up in
discussions among the experts, how
ever, the question of additional air
plane carriers for Japan. It has been
indicated in Japanese circles that ia.
pan besides equal tonnage with Great
Britain and the United States in car
riers.
American officers assert that air.
planes themselves might be classed as
defensive weapons as long as no means
was provided to carry them to distant
waters. But when airplane carriers
are provided the aircraft become POI
tential weapons of offense for bonn
bardment Of enemy cities and fortified.
tions.
Another aspect of the airplane car
rier problem lies in the American pol
icy providing for division of her fleet
for operations in two far separated
seas, the Atlantic and Pacific. That
makes necessary, American officers
argue, airplane carriers for use with
each fleet, Great Britain has ever wild
er responsibilities in all thu seven
seas. Britain's national life depends
on keeping the seas open to her trade
ships and her equipment in aircraft
and carriers must be equal to that of
any other power.
Japan Has Little to Protect.
Japan, in the American view, is not
similarly situated Her navy operates
practically for defensive purposes, as
single unit. The sea of Japan
which lies between Japan and Korea
is susceptible of such deferse that it
would be almost impossible of access
by an enemy fleet in war time, giving
Japan access to Asia's raw materials
and other resources.
For these reasons it is regarded GER
tain the American conference delega-
ton will not be disposed, to accept the
Japan proposal of equalf tonnage in air
plane carrier; for japan.
England Big Factor
Hope for an early settlement of the
dispute arising from Japan's request
for an increase from 60 to 70 per cent
in the capital tonnage allotted her un-
der the American limitation plan CEN
tered in the efforts Of Great Britain
to bring the japanese views into har-
mony with those of the United States,
While the preci>e manner in which
Great Britain has undertaken to use
her influence II solving the naval ratio
problem was not known, it was indi.
Gated that, as an ally of Japan and
no ~
principle the basic 55-3 ratio of the
American proposal. she had found a
double interest in the ultimate success
Of the negotiations.
Confe- with Toxic.
The situation was expected to re-
main at status quo while the japan.
csc delegates in the light of this new
development conferred further on the
question with Toxic, where il IS under
stood to be under consideration by the
Japanese cabinet as we'll as by the dip
lomatic and advisory council.
Meanwhile principals on both sides
OF the controversy refused to view the
situatio as deadlock, the Amer
lean delegates even declining to
recognize Japan's request for the in
creased ratio as formal proposal at
this stage, although it is known to
have been presented by Baror Kato
personally last Tuesday to Secretary
Hughes and Arthur J. Balfour, head Of
the British delegation. TIL American
delegates remained confident that the
Japanese request would be withdrawn
before reaching the status of what
they would regar' as formal propos-
al.