Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-17
Japan's Cards on the Table.

If franknSss is the open sesame to
achievement in diplomatic negotiations,
Japan has promptly done her share in
assuring the success of the London
naval conference. Before it had been in
Washington twelve hours. the japanese
delegation yesterday laid its cards on
the table, face up. Messrs. Wakatsuh
and Takarabe, confronting that battery
of interrogation points known as the
Washington correspondents. freely and
fully disclosed Nippon's hopes and plans
at London next month.
Having abandoned all claims to parity
with the United States and Great Brit
ain, Japan demands that minimum OF
naval inferiority with them which she
deems requisite for her national security.
The suave and Shrewd spokesman of the
Island Empire now in our midst do not
take refuge behind that generality. They
are specific. The below-parity level
which the japanese ask is seventy per
cent of the full auxiliary craft"
strength finally allocated to the Ameri-
spect of 10,000-ton cruisers, submarines
and destroyers, Japan insists upon 10
1917 ratio, instead of the $3.50 ratio
for capital ships battleships, battle
cruisers and aircraft carriers-which
she accepted in Washington in 1922.
Just how this so-called global percent
age of auxiliary tonnage will be distrib-
uted as between categories Of ships has
not yet been made clear by the Japa-
nese. Probably they themselves do not
know. Doubtless it depends on what
happens at London-where much may
happen. On one particular score Messrs.
Wakatsuki and Takarabe are unquali-
hedly plain. japan is not ready to agree
to abolition of the submarine. AS an
empire of widely scattered islands, she
holds the undersea weapon to be indis-
penSable to her defensive necessities.
Firm, and even formidable, as the
Japanese requirements are thus seen
to be, they are put forth in a spirit
harmony with the other conferee
powers. In a prepared statement, the
Japanese delegates tell us that "the
whole Japanese nation confidently an
ticipate that the conferences noble OBJ
jective will be attained in a just and
effective manner" In those carefully
chosen words, of course, lies the milk
in the coconut, as far as Nippon is
concerned. Japan advocates reduc-
tion," the statement continues, but we
know now that she will accept either
only that limitation or reduction which
takes her national security needs justly
and effectively into consideration.
Today, tomorrow and Thursday will
be given over by our distinguished
visitors from the other side of the globe
to intensive discussion with the Ameri-
can authorities. Presumably they will
together explore the differences which
separate the viewpoints of Japan and
the United States. AS there is said to
be safety in numbers, there is also
promise in conference.
We aim at the same goal. We do
not mistrust each other. We do not.
either Of us, covet anything belonging
to the other. We cherish in common
the faith that the Kellogg BRAND pact
is a solemn pledge by the civilized
world to renounce war To meet at
London under such auspices, as the
japanese statement points out, lis in
itself guarantee of success, for poll
cies of disarmament are the national
consequences of the remuneration of
war"