New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-25
Japan Coming Around
raran Is evidently coming around

Japan Coming Around
Japan is evidently coming around
to the idea that she cannot afford to
hold aloof from the Washington con-
ference. A reduction of naval build
ing programs is plainly to her inter-
est. She is one of the three leading
naval powers, yet the smallest and
financially much the weakest of the
three. Competition in naval anna
n1ent puts a severer strain on her re-
sources than it can on those Of Great
Britain or the United States.
Japan would especially benefit
from limitation on new construc-
ton at this time, since her navy is
we'll rounded and up to date. On
paper it looks little more than half
as powerful as the American navy;
but for the only purposes for which
it would be actually employed it is
nearly equal to our feet. Were
Japan able to count on renewal OF
the alliance with Great Britain she
might risk further unlimited compe-
tition in building with a certain
cquanimity. But if she fails to keep
the treaty of 1911 alive and becomes
politically isolated she would soon be
left hull down in the race for naval
superiority.
The Japanese government, no
doubt desires a building truce; but
it has shrunk from facing the condi-
ticns on which such a truce can be
obtained. What keeps naval rivalry
alive to-day is the unsettled situa-
ton in the Pacific. 1t is idle to talk
Of imposing a formula of reduction
on the naval powers with vital in
terests in the Pacific SO long as the
causes of international friction in
that region remain ungrappled with.
The Pacific question lies at the root
of naval expansion. Disarmament
must follow, not precede, an under
standing among the Pacific powers.
The British dominions which front
OIL the Pacific realize this fact.
Great Britain also realizes it. japan
would therefore stand alone in wish
ing to deal with surface symptom
instead of the disease which pro-
ouces the symptom. Some of her re-
dictionary leaders have complained
that Japan, if she enters the confer
ence and discusses the Pacific prob
lem, VIII be put in the position Of
defendant under fire. To assume
this is to assume that by her Far
Eastern policies Japan has excited
the distrust of the rest of the world.
The obvious answer to such a COM
plant is that made by Count Kato,
who said in Toxic the other day
"Let US go to Washington with clean
hands"
Japan has grievances against the
other Pacific powers. She presented
some of them unavailingly at the
Paris Peace Conference. She can
/ present them again at Washington
and appeal to the Judgment of the
world. Her position would be ma
terially bettered if she spoke out
frankly and confidently on all the
questions which make the western
Pacific focus of world disturbance.
Japan is, in fact, driven to enter
the conference on the Pacific. She
can lose less by going in than by
staying out; for if she stays out
while Great Britain and the British
dcminions go in she will see the last
hope of renewal of the Anglo
Japanese alliance go glimmering. In
stead of seeking an understanding
with the powers which are aligned
for world peace she will be Obliged
TO consort with the disturbers and
the outsiders. That is choice which
Toxic is hardly prepared to make.