Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-11-15
ENGLAND AND JAPAN
ACCEPT AMERICAS
ARMS PROPOSAL
Continued from page /

continued from page /.
II count myself among the fortu-
nate among thoae present" said Mr..
Balfour, referring TO the proceedings
OF Saturday and adding
"The secret was admirably kept.
hope all the secrets 40 long AZ they
may be secrets, will be az well kept"
Convention Greatly Surprised.
Telling Of how he heard Secretary
Hughes proposals. Mr.. Balfour snid
he suddenly realized he was partici-
patng In n grSat historical event"
When the blow fell and the speaker
uttered the memorable words that
found an echo in the civilized world
IT excited profound surprise. The his
tory OF world reconstruction had been
worthily opened.
MANY In my audience" said he.
ARE citizens Of the United States. The
United States stands solldly impreg-
nablc with the lines OF it's communi-
cations protected completely protect
ed from any conceivable hostile at
tack.
y. 3. Immune From Perils.
1T is not merely that you have
110.0o0,0o0 people. 1t is not that you
are the wealthiest nation. The geo.
graphical position OF your country
makes you wholly immune from the
perils to which the British empire IL
subjected.
Suppose your western states were
suddenly removed ten thousand miles
across the sea; suppose you found
that the heart OF your country was q
small and crowded island depending
on overseas trade, depending on over
seas communication for raw materials
Suppose your population never had
more than seven weeks food and tha,
this had to be replenished from over.
seas.
Necessity Of Sea Communication.
Then you VIII understand why /,
Is that every citizen of the British EN-.
pire no matter where he lives never
can forget that It is by sea communi.
cation that he lives and that without
IL he cannot live"
Mr.. Balfour said he did not want
the audience to suppose that he wa,
| 'lamenting over the weakness Of my
country"
Far from &C." he explained Will
emphasis. "We are strong in hope ant
In the ardeit patriotism that binds II,
together. But this strategic weakness
obvious to everyone who reflects. Il
known to our enemies Then, do no
let it be forgotten by our friends.
Immediately after Mr.. Balfour'
conclusion the official interpreter tool
up its repetition in French.
Premier BRAND and the Frencl
delegation listened intently. so di
Mr.. Balfour. who at times during tn
reading. whispered with Lord lie.
seated on his left. There were fire
quent mods OF approval by Mr.. Brian
and NJ. Yiviani. The premier took som
notes.
Japnn Formally Accepts.
When the Interpretation of M
Balfour's speech was concluded. Baro
kato, head of the Japanese, rose I
make his statement. Baron Kato spok
IN. Japanese and kept all around IN
big table guessing what he was say
, ing.
The official text OF Admiral Kato
address. as delivered by his interpre
ter, follows:
Japan deeply appreciates the sir
certify OF purpose evident In the pla
) OF the American Government for IN
: limitation OF arrnaments. She ia satt,
! fed that the proposed plan VIII mf
. terlaily relieve the nations OF waste
= tui expenditures. and cannot fall (
= make for the peace of the world.
She cannot remain unmoved d
. the nigh aims which have actuated IN
American project. Gladly acceptin,
therefore. the proposal in principle. ia
pan is ready TO proceed with dete,
minhtion 20 a sweeping reduction
her naval armament.
kafo to Propose ModIfica tions.
; III viii he universally admitted IN,
nation must be provided with sue
J armaments as are essential to its s,
I, curity. This requirement must be fuI
weighed IN the examination of n
; pan. With this requirement in vie
certain notifications will be propos.
,, Win regard to the tonnage basis z,
replacement of the various classes
vessels. This subject should be referr,
!. TO special consideration by naval @,
!, per,s. When such notifications a.
y proposed l know that the Americs
ana other delegations will -consld
e them with the same desire 10 me
o our ideas as we have to meet theirs.
/; japan has never claimed nor n,
intention OF claiming TO have a gener
: establishment equal in strength 70 tn
: OF either the United States or the R,.i
Il ish empire. Her existing plan will she
y cohc4usiNeiy that she had never
9 view preparations for offensive war
. chairman Hughes declared that ,
had listened with qualification and nr
h found emotion 10 the expressions
. cordial agreement in principle az 7
). American proposal.
y: Hughes Sees End of Wars.
- Tt now may be In order TO co
. slider the details" he said. "There a
y subjects which must be examined
e naval experts and it is the desire
10 the American government, that VIII
was proposed and discussed by \
! Balfour and Armiral Kato win all
W thoroughly considered to the end III
after careful deliberation we may I
-. complish the purpose for which 4
~ conference assembled TO achie
" There will come out of the conf
~ ence an approved agreement for red,
a. tion of naval armaments and the c
~ of offensive naval warfare which v
40 work to the great and enduring pc;
OF the world"
a. Mr.. Hughes said If it was not
~, desire TO continue discussion II wo
a be in order TO adjourn, adding Il
40 Premier BRAND would be expected
- present his views fully later on
subject of land armaments.
Chairman Pressing Work.
N 4