Evening star., 1921-11-09
JAPANESE willing
TO CURTA|L NAVY
Baron Kato Stamps Rumors
of Opposing Reduction in
Plans Untrue.

Absolute. denial of rumors that
Japan was unwilling to curtail pres
ent naval building plans was made
yesterday afternoon by Baron Tomos-
aburo kato. head Of the Japanese del
egation to the conference on limfta-
tion of armament and minister of
marine. Baron Kato. speaking before
"a group Of newspaper correspondents
at the Japanese offices on Massachu-
sets avenue. said that as far back as
last March his government had issued
authorized statements that naval
plans already formulated would :oe
discontinued to q certain extent II a
satisfactory agreement could be
reached at the conference in WASH
ineton, but that despite these assur-
ances certain American newspapers
even now continued to maintain that
Japan would go ahead with plans FOR
ships already agreed upon.
Would Even Cut sEight-Eight."
The "eight-eight" program, as it is
called, because it calls for the build
ing of eight dreadnaughts and eight
battle cruisers. is Japan's present
naval construction plan which was
sanctioned last summer. Baron Kato
refused to say how many of these
ships had been started, but he main
tanned that even the number of these
larger vessels would be cut If the
powers came to a proper understand
ing and that his delegation was go
ing into the conference with an open
mind.
Japan cannot start off on such .
reduction Alone" the Baron said.
, Great Britain justifies her large navy
on her worldwide dominions, the
United States jutsifies hers on her
great length of coast line, the Panama
, canal. Pacific possessions, and her
: merchant marine. Japan has never
conceived the idea at any time of at
, tempting to compete in the slightest
, way with the navies of these two
great nations, nevertheless Japan
! must have an adequate navy for many
different reasons. unless satisfac-
! tory arrangement 10 made with the
| other countries.
Not Self-sustain1ng.
Japan being an island. the fact that
Gus internal and far eastern situa-
tions demand that there be a rea-
sonably strong means of self-defense,
unless decisions at the arms parley
warrant that this defense can be cut
down."
Inc ADMIRAL explained InaC Cn6
eight-and-eight program will be COM
pleted in 1928. 1t was. of course, .
continuing program. he added. 1t
had been begun years ago and from
year to year appropriations had been
made lin the Japanese diet to carry
the work forward.
Somebody asked: what is the
proper basis of armament limitation"
Tho admiral answered: Il have no
doubt proposition will be made by
10 da1pPQfnQ
ference. Therefore, I think it is not
ideas on that subject. I prefer to
wait for the American proposition"
SuHEestfons to Oner.
To the question Have you pre-
pared any counter proposal to the
expected American proposition" the
admiral responded:
"I have no program to offer. but,
In accordance with the developments
from the American proposal, we may
have some suggestions to offer. 1t
all depends upon the nature and char
acter of the American proposal"
Admiral Kato, a frail looking man,
who Immediately recalls q picture OF
Marquis Komura. who represented
Japan at the Portsmouth peace con-
ference, gave evidence during the
conference that he is not in Wash
ington the man Of silence familiar
. to Toxic. He answered practically
all questions instantly and with free
dom. He spoke in Japanese, being
interpreted by Prof. Ichibashi Of LIE.
land Stanford University.