Evening star., 1921-12-17
JAPAN SPURNS IDEA
OF FBELL|COSE ROLE
Kato States No important
Element in His Country 0p-
poses Agreements.

Japan's attitude at the Washington
conference on the Limitation of arma-
ment will render futile any effort to
make it appear that Japan is "belli-
cose nation" Admiral Baron Kato,
head of the Japanese delegation. said
yesterday, in statement issued to
the press. He declared that the agree
ments which have been reached here
will meet with approval in his coun-
try. His statement follows:
THE agreements which the several
nations have reached will meet with
opposition in only q few unimportant
quarters in Japan. Japan. as a whole.
will rejoice in them as completely, If
not actually more fully. than any
other country in the world. 80
Unless the spirit of japan were en-
tirely in accord with that of the other
great nations that will participate in
the naval treaty. this agreement
could not have been reached. 1t has
been reached in substantially the
form in which it was proposed by the
United States and after less than five
weeks Of discussion. These extraordi-
nary circumstances show how un-
sound was any pessimism that pre-
vailed before Mr.. Hughes made his
historic speech of November 12; and
how unfair was the charge of delay,
in view of the fact that his drastic
proposals came as complete sur
prise to all of the other nations
"I may say that from the day the
proposals were made the Japanese
delegation, supported by its govern
| ment and the Japanese people, were
| determined that their country should
not be the one to prevent an agree
mont. or even to delay it beyond the
No. - H@ -
consideration: AS have said before,
we have never bargained. We pre-
sented our case to the delegates of
the powers concerned. and at all times
received, as we strived in our turn to
give. fair consideration.
Our attitude at this conference will.
! we hope. make futile hereafter any
effort such as has been made in the
past to present Japan to you in the
| aspect Of a bellicose nation, danger
| GUS to the peace Of the Pacific ocean.
and for our part I am glad to say we
have obtained unquestionable evil
dence that Japan need have no fear
OF hostile designs that may menace
her security from the west. This will
be a most gratifying relief to US.
'"The ample promise which this con-
ference gives Of future cooperation
among the powers interested in the
preservation of the integrity. inde-
|
| omy of China will not, only crafty
Japan. but will intellectually benefit
| China. The past blight of political
controversy and conflict among the
| greater powers in China has not been
the cause of her present unfortunate
condition, but it has done good neither
to the powers themselves nor to China
China is now assured that she
may proceed toward unification and
reconstruction, unhampered by any
Of the nations that have associated
themselves In support Of the Roo,
principles: and the security Of China Il
Of vital concern to Japan as. to nc
other country except China herself.
| American Leadership.
we are confident that we have come
to a new era which could not have
been made possible without the lead.
ershfp Of the United States. Her re.
mote position, power and prestige
gave her this splendid opportunity
and her desire for justice enabled heI
to assume that leadership. Only those
who did not know Japan could have
thought that she would fail to follow