Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-11-14
POWER OF JAPS
LIESINKEEPING
TRUST WITH IS.
Foremost Writer Of Japan
Gives Views on Arms
Situation.
FAITH AMONG NATIONS
Special to Indiana Daily Times
and PhiladelDhis Public Ledger.
By MASSANORIO ITO,
OF the Toxic JiJi-shimpO.

and PHILADELPHIA Public Ledger.
By MAssANORIO ITO,
OF the Toxic Jiji-ShimpO.
(Japan's Foremost Naval Writer.)
WASHINGTON, Nov. 14-This article
is my personal view without any official
relation. 1 write this as a journalist most
earnestly interested in naval defense
questions.
First Of all, I dare say that America S
proposal is all right in principle with
some reservations only in detail on which
I will touch later. 1 am confident that
there cannot be any reasonable ground
OF objection to it nor should there be, If
we really hope peace and humanitarian
movement to lessen armament burden,
which, after all, accelerate war
] can but believe that Japan who Is
undoubtedly animated with lofty as
piration to bring about an eternal and
closer friendly understanding with the
United States, will accept the United
States proposal In doing so Japan not
only could express practically her most
sincere wish to bring this conference to a
bright success but also can attain her
chief object that is a closer relation with
the United States.
Looking upon it from a strategic view
point. not tacticaIly, the safest measure
for Japan's national security is not her
IS feet, but her impregnable friendly
tie with the United States, which nat
uralIy put the SIS fleets out of necessity.
Not bit f1attering about this. I OBJ
serve purely from a viewpoint Of our ma
tionaI defense.
Naval power Is all in all relative
There can't be any basis or standard
OF a naval strength OF any country
without a conception of potential enemies.
For instance, you need not warshap at
all to defend the Monroe Doctrine if
there is no other naval power to at
tack it. To defend seashOre or com
merce is all justified only when there is
a possibility OF being attacked. The
navy can be done away with quite safely
when other naval powers abolish theirs.
This is truth that nobody may deny.
II so, there is no reason why Japan
should object to Mr.. Hughes proposal
which shall abolish American dread
naughts in the SINE drastic way. In so
far as the relative power of the Japan
csc navy is not greatly affected, there can
not be any destructive counter proposal.
The agreement. on Mr.. Hughes line, will
cause trouble, in not a small degree in
Japan among ship builders, labOrers and
naval administration. especially regard
ing persOnnels. This sacrifice must be
borne for the much greater aim and
again be shared willingly with the United
States and Britain. but it would be bet
ter if we CoCld achieve this aim with
out affecting internal conditions sud
denly.
While Japan will accept American pro-
posal in principle I suggest, quite per
sonally, some amendment shall be pro-
posed by Japan with regards tactical
standpoint. All very well to abolish
dreadnOughts in the near future to get
rid of an offensive organ, but so long as
dreadnaughts remain for some ten years
or twency-Japan wants dreadnaughts
enough to safeguard herself. Here
comes the question OF dreadnaughts
proportion. Japan wants for her
national security the dreadnaught
strength OF 66 per cent Of America's-I
am told Navy officers insist 20 per cent
from a pure defensive instinct In this
view Japan's ten against Americas eight
cen dreadnaughts comes short OF my
tactical conception Is this requirement
criticised TO be a conception of war
preparedness? Nothing is so far from it.
/ insist to meet our Nations requirement.
Of safety, the one addition OF the
MutSus which is already completed on
Japan's side and reductio nof Delaware
and North Dakota on the United States
side together with the British curtail-
ment Of King George V Centurion
and Alag will be the better ratio to
agree. In doing so, the United states
and britain tactically are quite free from
any possible attack from Japan, and
japan can set her mind at ease. This
will make the fairest minded constructive
proposal. If United States and Britain are
broadminded enough TO recognize the
Japanese aspiration for her national
safety.
Also I am confident there must be
some legitimate measure to forbid to re-
Mace dreadnaughts, otherwise japan as
8 youngest ship builder would suffer
when building reopens. 1 am sure this
shall be discussed in the committee at
length.
Lastly let me express my hearty wish
that the United States Government Will
see to it that the advanced naval bases,
being clearly offensive institutes shall
cease to exist. One word TO conclude
this. the best and the safest way OF
national defense lies not in the size OF
the navy. but a good faith between ma
tions.-Copyright 1921, by Public Led
ger Company.