New-York tribune., 1921-01-24
Leader of Opposition Says
Japan Cannot Compete
With Expenditures of
u. S. and Great Britain
War Profits Held
Not Worth Effort
Premier Declares Agree
ment Over Alien Law
Confidently Expected

TOXIC, Jan. 23.-The resolution by
United States Senator Borah for a
naval holiday" and its favorable re.
ceptlon IN the newspapers Of Japan
served yesterday as the basis of the
prlnclpaI Interpolation in the House
OF Representatives. U. Hamaguchi, OF
the Opposition party, said he neithe,
was a peace advocate nor an advocate
OF war between Japan and America
Dut that the naval expenditures of both
nations should be Of the same propor,
tlons, as far as possible.
America, he added, appeared to be
planning the greatest navy in the
world. but the natural resources OF
Japan would not permit OF competition
with America. Thus, he declared
there would wide gulf in the naval
strength of the two nations. Grea,
Britain, said the speaker. also was
planning a complete naval program
and If Japan were thrown into the
whirl of naval competition the nation
would suffer a heavy burden.
AN agreement for naval curtailmen ut
said Hamaguchi, would benefit Japan
more than the other power.
Hayashi's Opinions His Own
Asked if the recent statements Of
Ambassador Hayashi in London con.
cerning disarmament had been made
on instructions by the government,
Premier Hara replied that the ambas-
sador had not been instructed and that
he gave voice to his own opinions
The government, continued the Pre-
mier, was not prepared to say anything
on the subject of disarmament, be-
Cause it had not yet become practical
international question.
Supplementing the statement Of the
Premier. Viscount Uchida, the Foreign
Minister, declared the question of re-
strictions in armament was important
and that the government was studying
it carefully. He added, however, that
no communication concerning the
question had been received from any
government.
Dispatches from London quote Am
is waiting Tor Great Britain and the
United States to take the lead on the
question of disarmament.
Wait for u. 8. and Great Britain
Unofficial Japanese opinion here is
to the effect that any restriction by
Japan in armaments necessarily would
have to follow similar action by the
United States and Great Britain, which
are recognized as the most powerful
nations on the seas.
Both houses Of Parliament were
crowded for the opening session. The
opposition began the attack on the
government Immediately the minister
ial addresses had been concluded.
In the House of Peers Kiyoshi Ma
kashoji, former Minister of Agriculture
and Commerce, charged that the gov.
ernment had failed to obtain the bene
fits from the war which Japanese par
ticipation merited. Japan's position
was not what Premier Hara had
claimed it would be. The Japanese
were powerless to deal with the situa
ton in China and Siberia. The country
was disgraced in China and had lost
dignity with the western powers, the
speaker said.
Distrust and Criticism Gained
Cali we get for participation il the
war is distrust and unpopularity and
criticism for so-called militarism," said
NJ. Nakachoui.
Premier Hara replied that conces-
sons and compromises were inevitable
in the peace conference. The peace
treaty might be unsatisfactory to the
other powers as to Japan. The pres
ent disturbed condition in the Fa,
East was chiefly the result Of the up
heaval in Russia. 1t had been impos-
sible to secure an agreement on the
Russian question at the peace confer
ence, and therefore no definite guar
antee for peace in the Far East was
attainable there.
Continuing, the Premier said it was
true Japan had been criticized as q
country of militarsm. The govern
ment. he added, could only eXer. every
possible effort to remove such a mis-
understanding abroad, and this it was
doing with might and main.
Negotiations between the japanese
and United States governments result
ing from the recent shooting by G
sentry at Vladivostok of the Anerlcay
naval Lieutenant Langdon are progres.
tcontnusd on page thrsc)