Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-01
Agreement With japan.

Announcement that Japan has finally
and definitely accepted Americas naval
limitation figures flashes across the
London Conference scene ray of bril-
liant and welcome sunshine. It is an
event Of inestimable significance. Great
Britain and the United States having
already reached an accord, the news
from Toxic means that they are now
also in agreement with Japan. A three
power limitation treaty, therefore, is for
all practical purposes achieved, how
ever the continued efforts for q Ave
power pact may eventuate.
Japanese acquiescence in the Anglo
American propoSals-for the United
States delegation acted In the joint
name of the two English-speaking
powers-has come at the end of pro-
tracted negotiations. Patience and con-
Citation have ron the day. Their tri-
umph is an ideal contamination. It
leaves neither victor nor vanquished. It
is compromise honorable, as well as
satisfactory, to both sides. 1t does credit
in particular to Senator Reed, Americas
negotiator- in-chief, and to Ambassador
Matsudaira, who functioned at London
in a similar capacity for the Japanese
delegation.
For the next six years, at least, Jap
anese-American naval differences are
barred and banished. In international
relations, as In those among men, the
habit of mind is an all-important
factor. Having experienced the mutual
benefits Of an entente in ornaments,
Japan and the United States are
altogether unlikely, in 1886, to revert
20 q rivalry which in the meantime
they have seen to be senseless. Their
respective national mentalities, In Mr..
Macdonald's vivid idionn. viii have been
s.re-furnislled"
From the American standpoint, the
essential feature Of arrangements with
Japan is her acceptance of a round
sixty per cent ratio of eight-inch
cruisers. Nippon had demanded sew
enty per cent Of any allotment of
10,0oo-ton ships assigned to the Amer
lean and British fleets. In submarines
the Japanese accept parity with the
United States, at $4,000 tons, instead
Of the $4,000 which they at one time
asked. Concessions on the American
side give Japan seventy per cent of
our total strength alike in smaller
cruisers and destroyers. In total ton
mage, Americas $4,000, as against Ja-
pans $4,000, thus works out at a jan
anese percentage Of sos, or practically
the exact seventy per cent of global
English-speaking' auxiliary strength
which Toxic has persistently claimed.
Reservations to the agreement are at
tached by both contracting parties.
Japan does not surrender her right Ia
reseek q 10 per cent big cruiser ratio
with America at the 1886 naval con-
ference. The United States maintains
Its privilege to oppose such q quota at
that time.
Toxic dispatches explain that the
japanese government. In finally decid.
ing to come to terms with America and
Great Britain. is taking the long
view Of Nippon's international interests,
rather than being governed by the mar
rover vision OF the big navy party. The
decision does credit to Japanese states
Hanship. In determining to tread the
path which leads to closer co-opera-
ton and friendship with the British
and American peoples, the present-day
nolders Of her political destinies have
struck blow for the island empire'a
future of incomparably greater value
than whole feet Of men-of-war.