New-York tribune., 1921-11-16
Japanese View
Now Turned on
Forts lin Pacific
Consent to Abandon Eight
Eight Program Is Held to
Depend ON Agreement
Not to Fortify Islands
Press Comment Hopeful
Effect ON Labor Situation
of Closing Shipyards I'm.
spires Serious Concern

TOXIC, Nov. 10 (By The Associated
Press) considerable speculation is be-
ing indulged in here as to what the atti-
tudc Of the United States will bc To-.
ward the demands, which it is antici-
pated Japan will make at the Wash
ington conference. or the question Of
the fortitication of the Pacific islands.
1T is understood that the Japanese
government has an idea of reducing it's
'eight-eight' naval program to eight
four if the United States is willing to
abandon her three-year building pro
gram and give up her Pacific fortifica-
tlons'" says the "Asahi Shimbun."
"Such instructions already have been
given the Japanese delegation.
What the attitude of the United
States will be cannot easily be sur
missed. Judging from the spirit of the
conference, the American government
Will not insist on the proposal to force
Japan to reduce her capital ships to
ten" P" w
Hopeful of Realization
The "Jiji Shimpo," in an editorial.
finds in this question the most signif-
cant guaranty for the realization of
limitation of armaments. 1t SAYS it
hopes that any additional suggestions
or: counter proposals the other powers
VIII make from Individual standpoints
VIII not be of such nature as to re-
strict the range of limitation.
The "Asahi Shimbun" declares it is
profoundly impressed with the wisdom
OF the American authorities in not
giving Pacific questions priority over
armament, and that they also ad-
yanced such comprehensive plan on
limitation as to multiply the chances
for its being brought about.
The "Hochi Shimbun" advises the
powers to respect suggestions as
heralding a successful achievement of
the long desired restriction in arma-
ment, and to strive to reach an agree
ment as nearly within the proposed
range as is possible.
Employment Angle Studied
The Japanese steel and iron industry.
nearly half OF which is dependent upon
armament production, will be hard hit
II the limitation plan is realized, ac-
cording to the view here. A suspen-
sion si OF warship building by three of
the most important yards in Japan
would mean the unemployment of two
thirds of their workmen, estimated at
2oo,OoO persons. The English and
American unemployed could be alb
sorbed in other industries, whereas
Japan could hope for no such alterna-
tive: This matter is considered par
Ncularly serious at the present time.
"nen the Japanese popular mind al
ready is unsettled
The art of shipbuildng has made
remarkable progress through workmen
OF exceptional SKILL" said Fuji Shima,
director Of the Nippon Yusen Kaisha,
to-day. These workmen will be dissi-
pated by, ten years of building suspen-
sion, and it will be hopeless to try to
lind good successors afterward."
He declared that even with the re-
vival of commercial shipping the un-
employment problem resultant from a
suspension of armament production
could not be solved.
Attrlbutlng the economic depression
to the tremendous expenditure for
arnaments, Kinzo Ikeda, a leading
banker, advocates ready consent to dis
armament, not only for the sake of
the world but for the national welfare
Fears Labor Crisis
Vice-Admiral Funakoshi, president of
the Yokosuka Naval Arsenal, halls the
proposal as concrete plan, but says
he fears the inevitable aggravation of
the labor question in consequence of
the abandonment of the work on the
battleships Mutsu, Saga and Tasa.
Taisuke Shiota, director of the Nit
subisni dockyards, says that a strike
at present would be a death blow to the
steel industry and would increase the
instability of labor. He advocates
different standard Of limitation of arm
ament between the United States and
Japan, which he declares are widely
different industrially.
Takeshi Inukai, president of the Ko-
kuminto, or National party says that
fair or not, Japan is bound to see lin
itation OF armament realized with no
less scope than proposed. He sees
wisdom in Japan accepting this plan.
or one of more positive limitations.
Vice Admiral Sonojo Hitaka, naval
commandant of the general staff, de-
clares that limitation of armament is
matter of most practical value, and
that the ultimate object would be
frustrated if there was any defect in
the method of it's execution, however
plausible.