The New York herald., 1921-12-01
Baron Kato, Chief Nippon En-
voy, COnfesses Proposal WOr-
ries Him "a Little Bit
HOPES FOR AGREEMENT
Another Delegate Declares
Japan Believes 20 P. c. Basis
of Vital Importance.

wAsHrNcToN, Nov. 80 ASSOCIATED
Press).-At a conference with news
paper correspondents tonight Admiral
Baron Kato, senior Japanese plenipo-
tertiary, declined to say whether the
views expressed to the Associated
Press on November 2s by Vice-Ad-
miral Kanji Kato, Japan's naval ex-
pert coincided with the views of the
japanese delegation as a whole. The
Kanji Kato interview was an exposi-
tion of Japan's reasons for ineisting
on a naval ratio of 20 per cent, in
stead OF the 60 per cent. proposed in
the American naval plan.
Tho attitude Of Japan's principal
delegate differs from that voiced last
night by Prince Tokugawa, who ex-
pressed the positive opinion that the
Kanji Kato interview merely repre-
sented the personal views of Japan's
naval expert.
Has the interview given by Vice
Admiral Kato the approval OF the Japa-
nese delegation?'' the Naval Minister
was asked tonight
"I cannot crIticise what other people
have said" he replied.
He was then asked: do you think,
like Prince Tokusawa, that Vice-Admiral
Kato merely expressed his personal
viewsT'
ct would like to be excused from an
swerlng." returned the Minister, because
IL say anything II would be interpreted
as my own opinion, and i am not yet IN
a position to present my own position.
This Is a matter of great Importance,
and think Il will take more time TO Set
tie IT,"
Baron Kato said that while he was
not losing sleep" over the question, II
was OF such vital Importance that he con-
fessed he was worried little bit. He
expressed hope that an accord would
eventually be reached on the naval ratio
question. and was stlll willing. he said, to
.e,tie the warship tonnage question apart
from the Far Eastern question.
Asked ~ he believed the naval oues-
tion bore any relation 10 the question or
fortlfcations in the Far East, he replied
that "the question of fortifications has
r.lntion 20 Far Eastern questions In gen
eral." but since such matters have not
been brought before tho conference, ne
could not 60 further.
orc Of those high In authority In The
Japanese delegation uneouivocaliy de-
clared Japan believed her 20 per cent
ratio was vital because sne believes
anything less would place the empire
at the mercy OF other great naval Pow
ers. This spokesman added that he felt
the Japanese were justified In contend
ing for q higher ratio, believing that
the spirit OF the American proposals
supported Japan In her demand for
permanent navy large enough to SAFE
guard her national interests.
The japanese view was represented
in a political sense as follows:
Japan for the moment has no guar
anty, nor hns the present conference
found guaranty that no difficulties
will arise I'm the future. N such o
guaranty existed and the Japanese could
return 90 Toldc with tho conviction that
all would be harmonious In the future
there would be no need OF insisting upon
sny higher naval ratio. But Japan from
q practical point Of view and from the
standpoint OF the comparative strength
Of navles feels that she must maintain
naval force larse enough 70 defend
adequately the japanese Empire.
japanese tonight would venture no
predictions as 70 a possible solution OF
the deadlock among the experts.
Japanese In Washington IN sn unof-
fetal capacity express the opinion that
Japan could not put herself IN the
eventual position of causing break In
the conference. They expressed consid-
erabie anxiety, however. as 20 how y
eettlefnent was 70 be reached