Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-21
JAPAN PREPARES
NAVAL CUT VIEWS
Stand on Disarmament May
Soon Be Presented to
U. S. and Britain.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated EreSS.
TOXIC, September 21-More author
itative and more definite expression of
Japan's disarmament views than hith-
erto has been available soon will be laid
before the governments Of the United
States and Great Britain, it was learned
here today.
During the weeks of the negotiations
between Prime Minister Ramsay Mac
Donald and Ambassador Dawes, Japan
remained passive onlooker, merely
receiving information Of the progress
made, but now that the anglo-American
agreement is somewhat crystallized, the
Toxic government is able to assume a
more active role.
Requested Instructions.
It is officially admitted that Am
bassadcr Matsudaira In London has
requested fresh instructions, his re-
quest having been discussed at Jap
anese cabinet meeting yesterday.
1t is believed the envoy In London
has been instructed to amplify his pre-
vious expressions of japanese ofhclal
opinion, by which he Is understood to
have already informed the Anglo
American negotiatorS OF such outstand-
ing points as Japan's desire for a 70
per cent ratio of 8-inch gun cruisers.
Official circles, however, emphasize that
Japan does not contemplate anything
in the nature of preliminary three
power parley with Great Britain and
the United States which would likely
endanger the projected five-poWer con-
ference. It is denied that Japan con-
templates even conversations with Great
Britain, similar to the recent Anglo
American conversations.
A foreign office spokesman said to.
day Japan cannot be expected fuliy ana
publicly to state her position until the
five-power conference convenes or until
there is certainty that France and Italy
have decided not to participate IN the
parleys. Japan Is anxious for all fve
powers to attend and will avoid any
preliminary understandings which
would jeopardize the conference.
Wants Early Invitation.
Japan already has announced to
Great Britain and the United States
that her geographical position necessi-
tates early notification of plans, and
hopes to receive formal invitation to the
disarmament conference well In ad-
vance, probably three months before 1t
will be convened. Her delegates probably
will go to London by the SueZ Canal
route. requiring As days for the journey.
The foreign Office believes late jan
uary date will be suitable for the start
Of the paIleys.
NEWSPAPERS are discussing the QueS-
ton of Japanese chief delegate. Oth-
cially 1t is stated, no choice has been
reached. The government wants to send
q man of the caliber of prime minister,
and therefore ex-Premiers Wakatukt and
Yamamoto are mentioned, as is the
name of Viscount Saito, head OF the
1927 mission to Geneva. High quarters
believe Baron Shidehara, veteran Of the
Washington conference, would be the
ideal head of the delegation, but the
probability of a general election early In
1880 may prevent any cabinet member
leaving Japan. This is likely to bar Kyo
Takarabe of the naval ministry.
PARIS, September 81 (E0.-The Asso-
ciated Press correspondent learned from
authoritative French sources last night
that France will consider any decisions
of the projected flve-power naval con-
ference as merely provisional. France
viii value them Solely as a contribution
to a draft treaty to be composed at
Geneva for submittal to an international
disarmament conference.
It is understood that in recently af-
firming this viewpoint, French news
papers have accurately reflected the
views of the French government.
Reports from Toxic and London that
Japan had been invited to enter pre-
liminary disarmament conversations
with Great Britain, such as Finland and
the United States have been carrying
On for some time, caused numerous
inquiries at the French Ministry of
Foreign Affairs as to whether SIM
liar invitation had been extended
France.
These questions elected the following
reply:
"At the ministry of foreign affairs
it is declared that there are not at
present. either with the United States
or with England, any preliminary ne
gotiations on disarmament"