New-York tribune., 1921-11-15
Navy-Slashing
Plan Wins High
Favor in Japan
Press and Discussions in
Clubs and Among Persons
of All Parties Disclose
Support for Hughes Plan
Wise and Judicious Step
Premier Takahashi Asserts
His Confid nee i'm
Success of Conference

TOXIC, Nov. ID (By The Associated
Press).-Keen satisfaction and admira-
ton to-day comprised the keynote Of
the first Japanese newspaper comment
on Secretary of State Hughes's state
ment of Americas proposal for naval
holiday before the first meeting of the
washington conference last Saturday
The same satisfaction was noted in
the discussions at clubs and by people
OF various shades of political opinion
lnterspersed in these discussions were
many expressions of surprise that the
united States was prepared to set an
example of such drastic curtailmcnt in
her naval program.
The "Asahi Shimbun", expressed the
opinion that the American PROPOSAL
was not far removed from basis of
common understanding, while the "Jiji
Shimpo" quoted a Foreign Office au-
thority as observing that the proposal
came near the mark which the Japan
ese government had indicated to it's
delegates before their departure for
America, and as declaring that the
conference promised to be more sue
ccessful than had been imagined at
first, because of Secretary Hughess
wise and judicious step"
Support of Proposal Urged
The "Yamato Shimbun" declared
there was no reason why Japan or any
other power should hesitate to support
the American proposal
Some newspapers, withholding tenn
ON -
vited expressions of opinion by indi-
vidual readers. Some readers expressed
such opinions through letters to the
newspapers, which published them with
the explanation that they did not
necessarily reflect the editorial policies
of the journals.
A letter to the editor of the "Nichi
Nichi Shimbun" took the ground that
the proposal might be advantageous
to America, but was quite unfair to
Japan, since the formula for restric-
tion was based upon the number of
ships Naf1oat and provided that those
under construction be abandoned. The
writer objected to the giving up of two
Japanese ships to be launched this
month, and declared: mo Japanese will
agree, and there is no possibility of
arriving at such an agreement" The
writer declared Japan must have more
room for building large type warships
If the understanding to be reached were
based upon tonnage.
Praises Americas Sincerity
Hughes" says the "Jiji shimpo,. T "1
"most eloquently reflect the profound
sincerity and the firm determination
Of the United States to extricate the
world from fatal competition in naval
armament and thus to establish world
peace completely and upon a reliable
foundation. The imperial government
should be expected to give ready con-
sent to the brave American PROPOSE
ton, although Japan would not be un-
justified in making a suggestion of her
own in the hope of concentrating the
American proposal"
The "Hochi Shimbun" says the pro-
posal requires some investigation
among the powers before a definite
agreement can be reached, yet the "sin-
cerity of American resolution, which is
we'll embodied in the suggestion, in
finitely multiplies the possibilities of
armament restriction"
Advocates Larger Japanese Quota
The "Kokumin Shimbun" voices ap
probation of the sincerity and merit
OF the American proposal, but proposes
that Japan pause and consider whether
the proposal embodies a wise and fair
standard of limitation under the cir
cum stances peace in the Pacific"
says the newspaper" "can be main
tanned only when the naval strength
Of the powers on both sides is we'll
balanced. In order to maintain This
balance Japan ought at least to have
twelve warships instead of ten, against
the eighteen proposed for America
Yukio Ozaki, former Minister of Jus
tice, one of Japan's most prominent
champions of the principle of limita-
tlon OF armament, was quoted as saw
ing that the effect of the ten-year naval
lition of navies. "When the present
proposal is realized" he was quoted
as saying, Japan will be able to spare
3O0.O00,000 yen-more than enough to
solve the pending educational and other
| questions affecting the welfare of the
nation"
Takahashi Predicts Success
Premier Takahashi in a statement
definitely declared adherence to the
policies toward the Washington con-
ference laid down by the late Premier
Hara. He was convinced, he said, that
the conference would be crowned with
success.
ut is now three years since the end
of the war;" the Premier said, "and
yet the whole world is in state of
unrest. No one can forecast the de-
velopments of the future. In time
like this the President of the United
States has taken the initiative and
proposed the assembling of an inter
national conference respecting the re-
duction of armaments, as we'll as Pa
cific and Far Eastern problems. The
10 nj off
tion, accepted the proposal with pleas.
ure.
"The proposal of President Harding
is we'll understood to have been
prompted by the desire for the estab-
! lishment Of definite peace in the world