Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-21
.SH|DEHARA TELLS
OF IAPANS POLICY
Claim to Definite Naval
Strength Called Necessity
Against Foreign Invasion.
By the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
The claim of Japan to a definite
amount Of naval strength was described
by Baron Shidehara, the Japanese for
eign minister, to the Diet in Toxic to-
day as based upon "the practical neces-
sity OF making our defenses secure
against foreign invasion"
We offer no menace to any nation;
we submit to menace from none," he
said. "On that fundamental principle,
it is our desire to secure naval arrange
ment satisfactory to all the parties con-
cerned."
The speech, made public through the
Japanese embassy here, pointed to the
Washington Conference as having
opened a new chapter in human prog
ress and looked forward to the London
parley with the expectancy Of seeing
"the same measure Of achievement to
result" from 1t.
I'm the first place" Baron Ehide-
hara said regarding the London Con-
ference, I'VE take It that the conference
Is intended to attain an agreement
among the principal naval powers to
regulate their respective naval strengths
In such q way as to secure to each
power the integrity Of It's national de-
lenses and the reduction of naval exc
penditure and to promote mutual reia-
tions Of peace and friendship.
Significance Of Conference.
Therein lies the political significance
Of the London Conference. No nation
can be expected to subscribe to an
agreement that might jeopardize It's
own security. But IL must be remen-
bered that the amount OF naval
strength needed by one power Is an
important degree relative to that pos
sessed by other powers.
at ought, therefore, to be possible
for all nations concerned uniformly to
reduce their respective naval strengths
to certain extent and so to relieve the
burden Of their peoples without involv-
ing for any single nation any sacrifice
in the integrity of its national defense.
such result is, needless to say, at
tainable only through international
agreement. In the absence Of such an
agreement, the reduction of naval
strength which any particular nation
may effect Of its own accord in pur-
suance of the highest ideals will not
necessarily be followed by correspond
ing step on the part Of other nations.
Can Cut Arms safely.
"Given the assurance Of an agree
ment, however, all nations can safely
diminish their naval ornaments. In
their mutual relations. too, groundless
fears will give way to peace and friend
ship; the cause of peace among nations
will in that way be signally promoted.
Secondly, the nature of the So
called ratio Of naval strength should be
clearly understood! There are those
who are disposed TO look upon naval
ratio as the standard by which to gauge
international standing Of a country.
In their view, the power possessing
warShips in larger numbers or Of
heavier tonnage Is entitled by that
fact and to that extent to higher esteem
Of the world. Ii.
such an approach to the question
would render Impossible any agreement
upon ratio which In the nature Of
things preguppcses grsdatiohs iti naval
strength All nations being equal ~
iliternatloaai status, they &uuld no
doubt be Justified In claiming equality
In naval strength II amount Of such
strength were TO decide the position Of
each power in the hierarchy of states,
Our claim to q defitite amount Of
naval strength 10 in no way Influenced
by such sentimental considerations
Baron Shidehara said that the pub
lie opinion Of the world was calling for
peace and friendship in international
relations and that II the London Con-
ference should take this tide at its
hood its laborB viii surely be crowned
with success"