Evening star., 1933-05-21
New Complications Threaten.


New complications threaten to ship
wreck that conference, and these may
come this time from Japan.
President Roosevelt's proposal Is
based mainly on all nations agreeing to
abandon the offensive weapons which
create fear of aggression among the big
powers and place weak or small powers
at the mercy of the powerfully armed
nations.
The Japanese answer to the President
has been slow. The Emperor, who ac-
cording to the Japanese constitution,
cannot discuss international problems
with the head of another State. has sent
polite message stating that he had re-
ceived Mr.. Roosevelt's cablegram. But
it is the Japanese government and the
privy council which have to declare
whether the Presidents proposals are
acceptable to Japan.
According to high japanese authori
ties. the japanese government is in full
sympathy with the Presidents laudable
intentions, but they cannot be applied
to the specific situation which exists to-
day in the Far East The President has
made his proposals, say the japanese,
with an eye exclusively on Europe and
has not taken into consideration Japans
special situation. This oversight of the
President, say the japanese, is quite nat
ural since Mr.. Roosevelt had to make
a hasty declaration to forestal Hitler'S
speech.
But the japanese government must
go into these proposals with utmost
care, because Japan docs not want to
accept a proposal unless it is convinced
that it is compatible with her interests" 4"
From reports received from Toxic
so far, it appears that the proposal to
abandon all offensive weapons is not
much cherished either by the govern
ment nor by the general staff.
Viscount Ishii. who arrives in Wash
ington next Tuesday, will discuss the
! whole matter with the President. The
japanese statesman does not even pre-
tend that he is coming to the United
States to talk economics or finance. HIS
visit here, it is stated in japanese Off
cial quarters, is purely political, and
the viscount is not prepared to go into
economies, of which he knows only very
little.
Will Stress Cancellation.
The President will endeavor to make
the spokesman of the Japanese gov
ernment understand how vital it is for
japan to show conclllatory attitude
at Geneva, and it is reported that Japan
may be willing to sell her good will for
the recognition of Manchukuo by the
| United States and also recognition by
! all the other powers that Northern
China falls into the exclusive zone OF
influence of Japan.
Failing this, it is stated. the Japa-
nese will maintain their present posi-
ton that tanks and airplanes, two types
of weapons described by the President
as offensive. are imperative for Japan's
national defense, since she has to oper-
ate against large masses of Chinese
soldiers with comparatively few troops.
The tanks and the bombing planes,
against which the Chinese have no de-
fense whatsoever, assure her for the
time being an indisputable advantage
over her present adversaries.
1t is believed that some of the Euro
pean powers which are not enamoured
in the Presidents disarmament proposal
because 1t is too vague and the con-
sultative pact is too loose, might give
their moral support to the Japanese
thesis, if not in public, at least in
private. ,..-.
Should the Japanese maintain the
! point of view which they have at pres
ent regarding the offensive weapons, the
Limitation of Arms Conference will
again be in serious danger Of being
shipwrecked. because If the European
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