Evening star., 1929-11-17
Ambassador Presents Com.
pIete Case of Island En-
pire for U. S. Appraisal.
IMPORTANT CONVERSATION
IS AWAITED IN CAPITAL
Proposal Not New One, Say OBJ
servers-Tokio Committed to
Reduction Policy.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
Ambassador Debuchi of Japan has
laid before the Washington Govern
ment the complete case which the
Japanese delegation will put forward at
the forthcoming naval conference in
London in its demand for a ratio of
70 per cent for the japanese navy.
The Japanese decision to urge a
l0-10-7 naval ratio for the auxiliary
ships Of the American, British and
japanese navies, in place of the 5-5-3
ratio established for capital ships at
the Washington conference, will be the
principal matter for discussion when
the Japanese delegation arrives In
Washington next month.
The delegation will spend three and
q half days in Washington en- route to
the parley. conferring with Secretary
Stimson and other members Of the
American delegation.
Conversation Awaited.
Both American and japanese on
cials are looking forward to the infor-
NAL conversations between the two
delegations as being Of the utmost i'm
portance, providing the final opportun-
ity for clearing up q number Of out
standing problems concerning the
American and japanese navies before
the conference meets January 81.
While there has been no statement
regarding the attitude Of the Ameri-
can Government toward the proposal
to increase the Japanese ratio, it is
known to look upon the question as
one which might lead other nations to
demand an increase in their ratios.
The policy Of reduction. no matter
how drastic, in naval tonnage is one
to which both the United States and
Japan are firmly committed.
Demand Is Not New.
The demand by Japan for an in
creased ratio is not new one, since
the Japanese delegations at both the
washington arms conference and the
tri-partite conference of 1927 urged an
auxiliary ship ratio of 10-1O-7. Public
sentiment in Japan has been growing
since the Washington conference for
a higher ratio.
Japan's case in urging the increase
includes a number of arguments put
forward frequently by other powers for
a large defense strength. One Is that
Japans universal trade routes, through
possession of one of the worlds largest
merchant marines, makes strong pro-
tective navy essential.
Linked closely with this argument is
the contention that japan, as strictly
island empire, could in war time be
shut of from food supplies. The nation,
it is contended, Is not self-sustaining,
being much in the same position in re-
spect to food sources as the British
Isles.
Protection I'm China.
The ADEQUATE protection of the trade
routes to China, Japan's neighbor, and
the desirabiity Of sufflcient reserve
light cruiser strength to be sent into
Chinese waters In times OF trouble is
another point made by the Japan Japanes,e, e;
China, consider their navy to be prime
factor Of protection in the neighboring
country when troubles arise.
The present cruiser strength OF Japan
would be roughly equal to a lO-lO-f
ratio in the event final cruiser agree
ment provides between 315OOO ana
$4,000 for the American and British
navieS.
The japanese delegation Will arrive
in Washington December Is and VIII
probably be received the same day by
President Hoover. The conferences
with Secretary Stimson will likely begin
that afternoon and will continue with
the American delegates and naval ex-
perts until the delegation leaves for
New York. December 19.
The commission will sail for England
December 81 on the White Star liner
OLYMPIC. The delegation travelling to
London by way of the United States
will number 20 persons. The remaining
part of the japanese representation,
which will total about 10. Will go 10
TondoY nv wav of the Suez Canal.