Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-13
U. S. AND JAPANESE |
CONTINUE AT ODDS.
Reed Sees Matsudaira, but
TWo-Hour Conference Ap-
parentIy Is FruitIess.
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE,
STAFF Correspondent of The Star.


BY Cable to The Star.
LONDON, February 13-Japan and
the United States are at the crossroads
today in the five-power Naval Disarma-
ment Conference. Although neither side
is willing to speak of deadlock" or
impasse, that is exactly where matters
stand.
Former Premier Wakatsuki said 'No"
on the two cardinal points involved, re-
fuSing to recsde from Japan'S demand
for 10 per cent of any 10,000-ton, g.
inch-gun cruisers allotted to the Amer
leans. He also demanded heavy sub
marine tonnage, without any restriction
on Japan'S right to build a substantial
number of big ocean-going submarines
capable Of proceeding far into the West
erh Pacific to meet hostile battle fleet.
There were other points In the jap
anese statement, but these were the
ones which mainly stamped 1t with Sig
nificance. Wakatsukis manifesto re-
iterated Japan'S desire for both limita-
ton and reduction of naval ornaments,
but emphasized Tokio'S unwillingneSS to
consider any London treaty that doesn't
satisfy the island empires full defensive
needs. Security for themselves is
without menace to any one else" Is the
position of the Japanese.
The American delegation made an
eleventh-hour attempt to reach q COM
promise with the Japanese late yester-
day. Senator Reed, who has been the
principal negotiator with them, was
closeted for two hours with Ambassador
MatSudaira.
DiSpIeasure Registered.
If the Ambassador told Reed some Of
the things reaching London from Toxic,
the Japanese spokesman registered the
deep displeasure of his country with
the ignoring" Of Japan in Secretary
Simpsons February 2 statement. It
that statement dealt with the Limits of
possible agreement" with Great Britain
Japan was dismissed with q 40.word
statement.
According to a cabled editorial in the
influential Toxic Jill, Secretary Slim
san has treated japanese security with
contempt and has disregarded the en-
pres necessities. Japan apparently is
deeply embittered over what she terms
the bland indifference and diSdain of
the American delegation.
Secretary StimSon, Senator Reed and
their colleagues do not disguise the
japanese, but are disinclined to regard
It with hopelessneSs.
No delegation in London maintains
closer or more friendly relations with
the Japanese than the American, large
ly because of the presence of Col. and
Mrs. Charles Burnett Of the United
States Army. Their long Sojourn in
Japan while he was the American mill
tary attache at Toxic, and their COM
plete fiuency in the Japanese language
have resulted in cementing friendship
with many important japanese now in
London.
Every one at the conference is aware
Of the complete control the Japanese
government has over the empires press
and that the Toxic admiralty has the
whip hand. The authorities also UNI
derstand that the Japanese general
elections are having most important
bearing on the London discussions.
Even If the government were dis
posed to make concessions, their dis
closure at this stage probably would
mean disastrous defeat at the polls on
February 20.
There seems to be a plain intimation
in news from Toxic that the concessions
so stubbornly refused in February may
become debatable in March, especially
II the party now In power Is reinStated
after q satisfactory showing Of japanese
teeth here.
StimsOn Disclaims Project.
The London papers continue to take
seriously the wholly unfounded reports
that naturalization of the Philippines"
is figuring in the Japanese-American
groupings for compromise. StimSon
has authorized statement that moth
ing remotely savoring of such q project
has been discussed. What may have
given rise to the naturalization SUCCESS
ton Is: The certainty that the Japanese
have been informed that any insistence
upon the 10 per cent increase in the
margin of big cruiser disparity with
the United States would reopen the
question Of Philippine Notifications.
WakatSUki has heard from Reed,
however, that in certain contingencies
Japan might bring about, plans for
strengthening the Manila naval base
would have to be taken up where they
were left OF by agreement at the Wash.
ington Conference.
News of the Democratic victory in
the Massachusetts congressional cleo
ton brings considerable disnlay to
President Hoover's London representa-
tives, although Senator Joe Robinson,
the Democratic leader, so far has been
able to smother his own distress.
The Senate debate over confirmation
Of Charles z. Hughes to be Chief Justice
Of the Supreme Court also arouses the
delegates attention.
Senator Reed will address the Amer
lean radio audience over the Columbia
Broadcasting chain at 1890 pm.
Sunday.