The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-03-25
|JAPAN'S NAVY
is NOT RIVAL
|0F U. S., CLAIM
Assertions Announced as
Preposterous and Absurd
by Japanese Minister Of
Marme-Explains Program
OUTLINES SEA POLICIES
(By Associated Press)

(By Associated Press)
TOXIC, March 25. - Assertions
that the Japanese naval program was
pelng followed for the purpose of COM
petlng with the United States navy
were denounced as ''preposterous and
ABSURD. by Vice-Admiral Tomosaburo
hato japanese minister of marine, in
an interview with The Associated
fress here today. He declared Japan
was not trying to compete with the
American navy and that the Japanese
naval program had been formulated so
tnat the island empire could be de-
Iended against any emergencies aris-
ing in the Far East alone.
During the course of the interview
the minister emphasized the fact that
Japan's project to have a feet of eight
battleships and eight battle cruisers
not over eight years old was not neces-
sarliy 1rreducible. He indicated that
II all the naval powers would agree to
naval holiday" he would be willing
10 enter such an engagement and
would not insist upon the completion
OF the naval program projected by the
cot.
Asks Policy.
In view of the popular movement
-OA eAA~ I'll tdiluSul OI dImamGnTS lc0
by 4ukio Ozaki and commercial and
industrial leaders of the empire as
well as the world interest in disarma-
ment the correspondent asked M. Kato
to give as definite a statement as DOS
s1ole of Japan's naval policy
Let me say in beginning" the min
lister explained, that our idea in con.
slderlng the existence of the two
squadrons the irreducible minimum
necessary for naval defense originated
atter the Chino-Japanese war, and be-
lore the Russo-Japanese conflict. In
/ the war with Russia we had two
squadrons. each with six capital ships.
and later possessed squadrons having
eight battleships and six cruiers. After
the Russian war Japan planned to
nave her two squadrons made ND of
eight battleships and eight cruisers.
/ all capital ships less than eight years
| old.
Follow Examples.
| The condition of our finances did
not permit the carrying out of this
program so we tried to maintain an
81 standard and then So While
several powers are trying to build
i great navies consisting of 80. 40 or
even so. capital ships of the first line.
I
ard seems moderate, considering the
position of the island. In counting
ships less than eight years old. the ex.
amples of foreign powers have been
our guidance
The trainers of the 'eisht-eisbt'
program did not have in mind any
+! foreign country as a probable enemy.
WISH TO emphasize that they merely
considered our finances and decided
We could afford to maintain such a
navy. by which the island empira
could be defended against emergencies
arising in the far east alone
! Dwells on Coast.
NJ. kato dwelt on how the advanced
cost of building and the increased size
of capital ships had enormously ex-
panded Japan's naval expenditures un-
I'll the budget of 1921 carried $3.50
o00.O0O for this purpose alone. He
said the cost OF construction was ap-
prox1mately twice what it was before
the war, but he explained that Japan's
determination to build big ships was
! not due to her own initiative but the
necessity of following the latest type
of capital ship in the great navies.
These circumstances" he ccontinu-
These circumstances" he continu-
ed continued to cause an increased
burden on the national purse While
we were pursuing the long contem-
plated "eight-eight" program. il was in
evitable that the nation must bear the
additional expense, but it was very
deplorable.
Claims Propaganda.
I Il regret very much to see siniste,
propagandists or mischief makers try.
ing to attribute our naval project to !.
desire TO compete with the United
States. Nothing could be more pre-,
PROSPEROUS and absurd th7l this con.
tention. Needless to say the Japanese
navy desires the most cordial relations
with the U. S. navy"
What is your attitude regarding a
conference for the discussion of the
restriction of armaments?" he was
asked. -->
THE Japanese government" he re
piled, "Joined the league of nation
and in so doing so supported the prin
ciple of the reduction of armarnents
Whenever there is an infernationa
conference on armament reduction,
will be only too glad to cooperate
honestly with other governments tc
give effect to this principle.
) Although there is a clamor for tbs
restriction of armaments throughou,
the world, yet taking into considera
tion the real international situation
and the present status of the naya
powers, | do not believe our relatively
inferior navy should lead the way IN
5 reducing. nor that we should curtai
: our established plan. If dependable
Y International agreement comes init
: being whereby all naval power:
should agree to restrict their nava
forces, however, ! would be very glat
? to join to a reasonable extent II {
0 suitable formula could be found
Therefore, / do not insist upon tn;
3 completion OF our so-called eight
eight program"
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