The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-02-25
Washington Awaits World
Reaction to StimSon
open Door Letter.
JAPAN BUILDING SHIPS
Admiral Pratt Voices View
That NipponeSe Are Not
0verStepping Limit.
BY JOSEPH H. BAIRD
United Press staff Correspondent

united RreSS STAN correspondent
WASHINGTON, Feb. 25.-
The United States today
marked time in the far east
ern crisis, anx1ously awaiting
world reaction to it's vigorous
restatement of the "open
door, policy in China.
Secretary of State Henry l..
Stimson issued his reafirmation of
faith in the doctrine of equal oppor-
tunity in a letter to Chairman
Borah of the senate foreign re1a-
tons committee, and did not COM
municate it officially to the world
powers.
However, copies were sent to
United States ENJOYS in London,
Geneva and Toxic. And Stimson did
bid for world support of his policy
of nonrecognition of gains by force
when he said:
eff a similar decision Con a nom
recognition policy should be
reached and a similar position taken
by the other governments of the
world, a caveat will be placed upon
such action which, we believe, efec-
lively will bar the legality of any
title or right sought to be obtained
by pressure or treaty violation
AZ V:oIoks1a C11-
Admiral William v. Pratt, chief of
naval operations, commenting on
press reports Of Japan's naval con-
Struction program, said today that
it is undoubtedly true" that Japan
is building her navy to the full
strength permitted under the Lon
don naval agreement.
He added that there is no EVIL
dence that Japan is attempting to
go beyond that.
Pratt had in mind an article in
the New York Times today, saying
that, according to official reports
received at the navy department,
Japan now is taking steps to be-
gin construction of four new $500
ton cruisers.
The article said that, in the opin-
ion of American naval experts, this
would signify the abrogation by
Japan Of the one-year naval con-
struction holiday agreement signed
by the United States. Great Brit
ain, Japan, France and Italy. The
Ln1iIax1 n r7.o0NooAnf hAnoT0A offnPtixTG
Nov. I, 1881.
other Types Unlimited
From the japanese governments
acceptance of the naval building
holiday" Pratt said, 1T would seem
that the japanese provided the holi-
day would not interfere with con-
tinuation of their naval program
from 1881 to 1886.
1.-TWO cruisers, three d~estroyerS
and two submarines of that pro-
gram have been laid down. The
other types of ships included in the
program are unlimited by the Lon
don treaty"
Pratt said that, in view of the
SOdbCl1lCA4O III 4AAC I1lflCo OlldO AIlIcI"
lean naval experts have at this time
expressed certain opinions, 1 de-
sire to give the impartial facts"
Builds Flying Deck" Cruiser
The Times said that one of the
new cruisers which Japan now is
preparing to build would be a
flying deck cruiser.
This type of cruiser met with OBJ
lection from congress, when it had
been suggested that this nation
build such a ship.
The navy department has re-
ceived no official report regarding
the construction in Japan of a
flying deck cruiser" Pratt said.
In discussing the statement in
The Times that the construction of
the four cruisers would be in viola
ton of the holiday agreement, the
admiral said that such is not be-