The New York herald., 1921-11-16
TOKIO'S Big ANXIETY
IS ORIENT'S FUTURE
Demand for Demolition of
L. s. Forts in Pacific Is
Sure to Be Made.
RADICALS INSISTENT
Baron KatO Goes Over Re-
ports of Experts OH Rela-
tive Navy Allotments.
WANTS SHIPYARDS OPEN
Will Ask One More Capital
Ship, the New Mutsu, Than
Is Allowed by Hughes.

Special Despatch to THE NEw YORK nnssLD.
New York Herald Bureau.
Washington, ID. G., Nov. 15.
The exact character OF the modifi-
cations Japan will ask 10 the Ameri-
can proposals for limiting navies will
be determined largely by what devel-
ops tomorrow in the committee TO
consider the political situation in the
Far East.
The interest of the Japanese delega-
ton centred tonight more on Far
Eastern politics than on the details
Of the naval agreement, the principle
Of which Admiral Baron Kato, the
Japanese Minister Of Navy, announced
to-day at the open session of the Con-
ference on the Limitation of Arma-
ment. 1t became plain, in conse-
quence. that the Japanese are willing
to let the naval issues slide along for
the moment until they learn where
they are to find themselves in the
consideration Of the various Pacific
problems.
Upon this development, THE New
YORK HERALD is able to say, depends
whether Japan will bring up the matter
of Pacific Notifications as part of the
political programme.
! 1t may be said on authority that this
question is to be taken UP, as has been
indicated before in these dispatches. II
now Is a matter for decision whether it
il better to do so in connection with the
size of the fleets or as part Of the Ear
Eastern problem.
kato Gets Experts Report.
The naval experts cs the japanese
mission have completed their survey OF
the American proposals, and have turned
their report over to Baron Kato He is
looking It over and will bring UP certain
features of il tomorrow when the naval
| committee meets again.
In a general way the experts reached
the decision that Japan ought 10 sat an
Increased amount of capital ship tom
| II sStttS bhat AZ ACibAtS
has been arrived at. although there is
some talk that 10 per cent. IS the figure.
The programme outlined by Secretary
Hughes provided that the replacement
tonnage in capital ships--that Is. the
tcnnage which eventually would be the
limit when the scheme gets into actual
operation-provides that there should be
500, 900 tons for Great Britain, COO, 900
tens for the United States and 100000
tens for Japan. The figure was arrived
at on the basis Of the present naval
strength OF the three Powers.
In the first instance Baron Kato in
dlcated that the ratio provided for
Japan would be agreeable, but the ex-
perts in going over the figures decided
that Japan ought TO be allowed more
capital ships, basing their arguments on
the tactical formation Of their fleets
and on the missions Japan ordinarily II
called upon To perform. An effort will
be made to retain at least one more
bettleship, perhaps tho Mutsu. which has
been launched and. according to the
Japanese. already put in commission.
Secretary Hughes recommended that
this battleship be scrspred.
Would Not Close shipyards.
1t Is expected that the japanese also
VIII have recommendation rcsardinR
the system Of replacement along the
lines OF that put forward By Groat
Brits in. II is the Japanese idea too that
shipbuilding facilities should not be
closed entirely. but that some system
should be worked out where. in modi-
fled way, they could be allowed 10
operate.
Around Japanese headquarters to-day
there was much speculation as TO what
VIII happen tomorrow when Far Fast
ern questions are 10 be considered for
the first time. The whole matter at
issue was whether Secretary Hughes az
he was last Saturday. would bc ready
with q programme. or whether the jap
nnesc would be, permitted TO express
their Ideas az to what policy should be
adopted with regard to the Far East
/ IL was recognized that Mr. Hughes, as
chairnanpof the conference, would have
the advantage. if he cared O. make use
OF II. Of presenting programme
! Tho idea went forth. although unoffi-
cially. that the japanese could be relied
upon 10 have "a programme for the s., tile
ment Of the Far Eastern issues
Some Of those In the inner circles OF
| the Jspaneee mission ventured the opin-
ion that the question OF insisting that
the United States deinolsh its fortihca-
t!pns In the Pacific would yo over. to be
considered with the Far Eastern quea-
tions. The view was reflected even
among the naval experts who are In the
mission.
Their idea was that the continued sc-
tivities OF the United States in building
Qualifications, chiefly ut Hawaii, the
Philippines and Guam. indicated a policy
on the part of the American Government
which threatened the securily OF the
Japanese Empire.
Some of the more radical expressions
were that the Japanese delegation would
insist on the razing OF these fortlfca-
tions before Japan started In q scrap the
vessels of the fleet In accordance with
the Hughes programme.