The Indianapolis times., 1925-02-03
Editors Are Asked to Use
Influence to Stop Navy
Movement.
Times Washin0ton Bureau.
1892 Neao York Avenae

Lo~S ~ CsS 4ete <ANDH0Os
E-7 ASTIINGTON, Feb. S.-What
IWl on the surface appears to be
- a nationwide attempt by the
Japanese to bring pressure to bear
on the Emitted States to have the
naval maneuvers in the Pacific next
April called of, has come to light
here. 1
Newspaper editors, apparently all
over the country, have been appealed
to individually, by letter, with the re-
quest that you will exert your ut
most to persuade the American Gov
ernment to abandon the naval man
euvers."
The letter is dated from Toxic and
is hand-signed by Teiiche Sugita, a
member of the house of peers. Fin
closed is a resolution adopted at g
mass meeting, held under the
auspices Of the Tai Bel Mondai Yushi
association. representing all classes
of the Japanese people"
Resolution Text
The resolution read:
WHEREAS, America has de-
cided to concentrate her whole Navy
in the Pacific for the purpose of
holding grand naval lnaneuvers
with Hawaii as the central base of
operations, extending over a period
of nine months from January next;
WHEREAS, America intends to
invite Australia and New Zealand
to participate in the said maneuv-
ers;
WHEREAS, the above action of
America tends to disregard COM
pletely the spirit of the Washing.
ton Conference and to menace the
peace of the Far East;
WE, Mitsuru Toyama and the
members of the Tai Bel Mondai
Yushi Taikai, representing all
classes of the Japense people and
all political parties, publicly as
sembied today, 21st December,
1924, do hereby earnestly hope that
the American Government, out of
due regard to international moral
ity and the cause Of world d-peace,
win Immediately abandon the dis
quieting plan.
(Signed1 Teiichii Sugita,
Member of the House Of Peers,
and Chairman OF the Meeting.
Toxic, japan.
Thus what atsfirst appeared to be
only a short rt-lived outburst on the
part Of a group OF Japanese jingoes,
now seems to have developed into a
sort of nationwide and nationalistic
drive. Nor is it without other sur
prising features.
Presidents Assurance
First, it comes after President
Coolidge went out Of his way to as
sure Japan, without mentioning any
names, that the naval maneuvers of
Hawaii in April. are merely part and
parcel Of the Navy's regular annual
training; and, second, the man who
apparently is at the head of the
movement. is not usually classed
among Japan's jingoes.
Teiichi Sugita Is one Of the few
surviving old Liberals who, in 1881.
obtained from the Japanese emperor,
Meiji Tenno, the promise of a con-
stitution within the following ten
years. He was an associate OF the
late Grand Old Man Of Japan" the
Marquis Okuma, also of the late
founder of the Seuku-kai, or present
Liberal party, Prince Ito. Sugita
is no leader Of this party.
In his early years Sugita was
really a radical. Now close on to
rs years Of age, he is a moderate,
having accepted at the hands of the
emperor in 1912 the honor of be-
coming non-titled crown mem
Der" for life OF the House Of Peers.
Home Consumption
1t is considered significant, how
ever, that the agitation in Japan has
now reached the stage where such
an antiimperialist and anti-militar-
ist as Sugita not only works for
but assumes the leadership of, a
movement which includes his old
enemies, the war-rnakers, OF Nippon.
The resolution enclosed in the Su.
gita letter, full Of inaccuracies as it
is, is interpreted here as being pri.
marily for home consumption.
The Hawaiian maneuvers, decided
upon as far back as three years ago,
will not last nine months but only
a few weeks. Afterward the fleet
will break UP into units, each going
its own way.
Australia and New Zealand, of
course, will not be invited to par.
ticipate. Our battle fleet plans to
visit Australasian waters in much
the same way that several Japanese
warships recently visited American
ports, combining courtesy calls with
naval training.
The 1926 ,maneuyers will take
place of the western entrance to
Panama Canal. after which the com
bined fleet will proceed to ports in
Peru and Chile for practice going
and coming. No Central or South
American country has offered any