Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-18
JAPANESE SUPPORT
HOOVER'S ATTITUDE
ON REDUCING ARMS
Note to Britain Says Cut Is
Preferred to Limitation
of Navies.
FURTHER CONVERSATIONS
ON CONFERENCE PLANNED
Text of Reply to Farley Invitation
Delivered to Secretary
by Ambassador.
BY the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
Full support of President HooyerS
announced policy of naval reduction, as
contrasted with limitation, was ex-
pressed by Japan in accepting the Brit
ish invitation to the five-power confer
ence to be held at London in January.
The Japanese note of acceptance was
transmitted to Secretary Stimson by
the British foreign office and a copy
was delivered by Ambassador Debuchi
here. The text was made public today
by the State Department
In addition, the Japanese government
expressed complete willingness to en-
gage in negotiations with Great Britain
prior to the conference, in order to fa-
cilitate the work of the parley itself.
The japanese attitude toward the pro-
visional agreement between the Wash
ington and London governments, the
note said, will be communicated to the
British foreign Office in the course of
the discussions to precede the January
conference.
Text Of Note.
The text of the note was as follows:
81. I have the honor to acknowledge
the receipt of your note dated October
q, informing me of a provisional and
informal agreement reached between
the prime minister and the American
Ambassador in London on the subject
of naval disarmament, and inviting the
japanese government to participate In
q conference which it Is proposed TO
summon In London to consider the
categorieS of ships not covered by the
washington treaty and to arrange for
and deal with the questions covered by
the second paragraph OF article 81 OF
that treaty
"2. Having laid before my govern
ment the contents of your note under
acknowledgment, ] am desired to state
in reply that the Japanese government
are happy to signify their entire con-
currence In the desirability Of the pro-
posed conference, and are ready to ap-
point Representatives to take part in
that conference. The date suggested for
the opening OF the conference, namely,
the beginning OF the third week Of jan
uary, 1880, is also agreeable to my gov
ernment.
Planning Conversations.
"3. The japanese government are
further gratihed to know Of the willing
ness of the British government TO con-
tinue informal conversations with me,
as hitherto, on many points which may
require elucidati0n. They note that SIM
liar discussions conducted in London by
the prime minister with the American
Ambassador during the last three
months had cleared the ground for an
agreement on essential points between
the British and American governments.
prior to the invitation extended to other
naval powers to meet in conference.
NV government attach the highest i'm
portance TO the same procedure being
followed by the Japanese and British
governments In order to insure agree
ment between them on various ques-
tions that are to be laid before the con-
ference. The success OF the forthcom-
ing conference no doubt depends in a
large measure upon the satisfactory is
sue of such preliminary discussions and
my government confidently trust that
the informal conversations between the
British government and myself on
questions of special moment will be
carried on and completed before these
questions are presented to the confer
ence for final adjustment.
Il. In your note under review, it is
intimated that the British government
propose to communicate to me in due
course their views as to the subjects for
discussions at the conference. The
Japanese government are looking for
ward to such a communication with
keen interest, and, on their part, they
will be glad to furnish the British gov
eminent with d corresponding COM
munication as desired.
Agree on Starting Point.
"5 With regard to the four points of
principle mentioned in your note as the
subject OF provisional agreement be-
tween the British and American gov
ernments, the japanese government
hopes to be able to submit their OBJ
servations in the course of the informal
conversations which shall shortly per-
nit myself to hold with the British
government. They would, however,
make use of this occasion to answer
YOU of their cordial support Of the
principle that the treaty for the renun-
citation of war, signed at Paris in 1928,
sh -ald be taken as the starting point
for all discussions on disarmament.
They feel confident that the sense of
national security inspired by the pro-
vision Of that treaty in the mutual re-
lations of the contracting powers will
pave the way for the final settlement OF
the outstanding questions relative to
naval disarmament.
"6. In conclusion, I am instructed to
express the sincere and earnest hope OF
the japanese government that the con-
ference viii succeed in the adoption OF
plans calculated to promote interna-
tional peace and good will, and to re-
lieve humanity of the heavy burden Of
armament, whether existing or contem-
plated. 1t is not merely the limitation
but also the reduction of armament
that all nations should seek to attain