Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-09-14
TOXIC NAVAL STAND
CONFUSING TO j. S.
Proposal to Bar Further Bases
In Pacific Conflicts With
American Plans
REDUCTION COMPLICATED
BY CLINTON w. GILBERT

staf Correspondent. Evening Public L~dseI
Copprioht. 1881, bp Public Ledocr Co'npdni
Washington, Sept. 14.-Japan's re-
ported position In regard to Limitation
of armaments indicates that the rea
difficulty in the coming conference hert
will be to find some basis upon whicf
the Powers can agree to cut down naVa
expenditures.
What japan aims at is the mainte
| nance of the naval status quo in the
Far East or perhaps the Strengthening
Of herself relatively In that quarter.
Political difficulties in the Pacific
are clearing up, except the uncertainty
with regard to the unity Of the Chines'
Governments.
The Shantung problem seems sure t.
be solved by Japan's recent offer tC
withdraw from the province, retaining
only a Joint control with China over
the railroads there. A similar attitude
with regard to the twenty. one demands
is confidently expected. Japan Is vir-
tually abandoning the political pene.
tration of China, except Manchuria. and
in spite of official denials, this country
Is likely to be found indulgent toward
Japan's ambitions in that quarter OF
Asia.
Conflict on Naval Bases
But some of the principles announced
In Toxic regarding disarmament in tho
Pacific run counter to this country 5
plans to operate it's navy chiefly in that
ocean. This country has no adequate
naval bases in the Pacific. If Japan's
POSITION Is that no new naval bases
shall be constructed anywhere in the
Pacific, the United States can never
operate more than q part of her navy In
that ocean and the control OF the Pa :
cific will remain indefinitely in the
hands of Japan.
If Japan means simply that this
country shall agree not to construct
naval bases In the Philippines and
Guam, it Is possible that this country
will agree, for it IS not likely that the
limitation of armament will mean any :
thing il the United States proceeds to
bring it's navy within striking distance
Of the Far East.
But there remains the western coast
line for the United States. This coun-
try will hardly agree that 1t cannot con-
struct in California, Washington or
Oregon, or perhaps in Hawaii. naval
stations adequate for the basing Of the
American Fleet in the Western waters.
And there is also Alaska that is part
of the coast line Of the United States.
Harbors on It really lie nearer Japan
than any of the island possessions Of the
United States. In the case of war with
Japan. these harbors would be immense.
ly important either for the defense of
the United States, or, II seized by the
japanese Navy, for an attack upon the
west coast of the United Suites.
Thus while an agreement to limit
naval armament in the future assures
the supremacy of the United States on
the seas generally as the power having
or to have when the present building
programs are completed probably the
strongest navy in the world, an agree
ment such as Japan suggests. limiting
naval bases in the Pacific, would leave
Japan supreme in that ocean, at least
in the Eastern part Of that ocean.
Also it is q little uncertain what II
meant by the japanese suggestion that
Powers should minimize the scope OF
their amament to the same degree as
that country having the smallest nava
strength of those concerned The enc
Is described to be that no Power should
possess such a force as to obtain q de-
cisive victory over any other Power IN
the agreement.
Expect Japan to Yield
rms suggests that oIneI COUNTRIES
cut down 10 the stanaaru Oh Japan oi
that Japan De ailowed 70 T, eAPana n.or'
than lts greater IiVa's. ine suSses.nUi
ried out, though delayed, looks in thu
same a1rection' japan na''nB 'ne i"fs
est DulIuihg prosrs. ps o.uouu o.,
Mhen the cvhieremue ns;anr aosu ~ ~
uo"n 10 WORK the sun hnnu'nn;auai,
the necessity ot "orn onI EnnIand n Uh;nl
WIN this county anu hanSnn b.r Wiz, ae.
gressive political policy in the Far Eas
in Shantung and with regard 70 IN
twenty,-on demands, VIII, no doubt
cause her to yield somewhat OF her po'
sitlon regarding the haVal STATUS qu'
in the Far East: :.
But experts who nave peen worKinl
here upon disarmament are controhte'
by the difhcuity OF nhding any OASIS 10
| hhNo"HA'hh iu'eiS h"'eN