The New York herald., 1921-02-20
JAPAN MUST BUILD
Big NAVY, HE SAYS
Dr.Iyenaga, Regarded as Toxic
Spokesman, Explains Views
of His Government.

vi Ills uOtGInlIlSi
Dr. T. Iyenaga, director Of the East
and West news bureau. whose utter
ances have so often been regarded as
coming from the Japanese Government.
placed himself beside Senator Borah
and other statesmen who consider that
Japan, Great Britain and this country
should set an example to the world by
suspending their programmes of naval
construction. in a speech Illuminating
Japans position on the question
DR. Iyenaga spoke at a conference OF
the Council on Foreign Relations. al
the Hotel Astor, after j. a. M de San
chez of tho French High Commission,
end Frederick II. Allen, had spoken OF
the naval necessities of France and
Great Britain. He declared. in effect,
that the single reason Japan was al
work upon u large navy was in order
that she might keep somewhat apace
Of the 1.-TWO nations with the greatest
navies,' and that the Initiative for cur
failing naval armament must come from
the chief offender" Japan, he insisted,
was in no position to initiate such a
move.
Danger From Two Nations.
"The question of limiting naval arma-
ment." he said. certainly would be a
feasible proposition if the Powers con-
ceIned approach 1t in earnest and good
faith Japans naval programme was
formulated with a view to assuring the
defence of the island empire. to safe
rdi vital Cnr1Y1tif finue vvitH n
its territories across the seas. and to
protecting its mercantile feet. This may
sound a platitude, for II Is but truism
which. every other naval power will in
sist, Is the principle governing its own
naval policy Manifestly, therefore.
more plain talking Is demanded. AS the
case stands to-day there are only two
navies In the world which may en-
danger, in case OF conflict, Japan's $
safety and its oversee communications.
"It is, then, clearly to provide against
the possible dangers feared from the ac-
tivities of these navies that japan Is
spending vast sums of money for her
naval equipment. To spend almost half
or her entire revenue for armament, in
cluding the military and navai--morc
than ten times the expenditure allotted
for the important item or education
IS in itself an absurd, IL not tragic, act.
The irony of il ALL however. is that the
act becomes almost comic when we con-
slider that one OF these great naval pow
ers is Japan's ally, and the other her
best friend.
Japan might In turn well inquire OF
her friends what Is the purpose of MAIN
tanning such vast navies and, above all.
OF expanding them, as America Is doing.
on a gigantic scale. Americas answer
- 4fot ia to
not at all intended to intimidate Japan
but 70 have navy at least equal to that
OF any other Power.
Raps Glamour of u. s.
1T Is not within my province TO say
what the distinguished representatives OF
other countries will say on behalf OF
their own nations. i am rather tempted
10 give here a homely illustration Fish
errnen, to whom l take pride In belong
ing during the summer have among
no decorum for neat dress.
Sweaters and overalls are all that is re-
quired of me in keeping their company.
In the family OF nations. however, when
Uncle Sam bedecks himself with all the
glorious garments which his enormous
wealth could buy and which the congre ss
or Fifth avenue tailors could devise and
cut out in the most approved fashion. IL
becomes urgent for poor Japan to ex-
haust every possible means for the pro-
vision OF decent apparel SO as TO mako
4 respectable appearance In the comfy
Of nations.
According TO the present naval pro-
grnmme japan will have. by tho end OF
March 1923. eight battleshlps and eight
battle cruisers. all under eight years of
nge, with the necessary auxiliaries.
This will in effect be the total fleet of
serviceable age that Japan will then
have.
Compare this with tho total fleet in
1925 OF Great Britain or America, and
you will have broad. simple and in
disputablc fact. from which there can
be no mistaken inference. There can be
absolutely no idea OF offence in such
a programme.
"The question OF competitive naval
armament simply resolves itself to the
question Of proportion, OF ratio between
the several navies. The ratio of 779,000
tons Of American navy to 10000 tons Of
Japanese navy, now maintained. will
not be much disturbed in 1926. after two
Powers have expended for the construc.
ton or new ships colossal sums OF
money which both countries-oven
America. belleve-can Ill afford.
II might conclude my remarks By
saying: That the initiative for curtaii-
ing naval armament must come from tho
chief offender, who has inaugurated the
extrayagant fashion. The chief reason
tho Japanese Diet voted down the resolu-
ton introduced by Mr.. Ozaki lies in the
fact that Japan Is IN no position to
initiate such a move.
And that the ratio or naval equipment
IN accordance with the needs Of the re-
spective countries as dictated By geo.
graphical and other considerations. how
ever difficult may be tho task. must he
agreed upon BY the three naval Powers.
otherwise the nations who are tho main
stay Of modern civilization are clearly
heading toward bankruptcy. II not still
worse consequence