Evening star., 1933-08-02
Rate by Man-Payable IN Advance.
IGaExlsu nd and NifEinia
An Other States and Canada.
nx.uh.r of the Associated Prese.
Japan Arms to the Teeth.

Japanese Army and Navy chiefs yes
terday presented revised estimates Tor
the 1934-le35 defense expenditures
larger than any in the island empires
previous history and forty-flve per cent
above appropriations for the current
year. They aggregate In American
money the colossal sum Of $347 ,oo0,o ,oOo.
II Nippon actually embarks upon the
new program of military and naval
expansion which these figures connote.
the world has reason to look forward
to the resumed Geneva Disarmament
Conference In the Fall with almost
complete hopelessness. The outlook
was bleak enough In Europe, with
the continent. nineteen years after
the outbreak of the World War. shud-
dering in the presence Of the new
German menace offered by NaA rule.
With Asia threatened with domina-
tion by japanese armed power on
the prodigious scale Toxic now signals,
the Western nations envision situation
on the other side of the world little
conducive to a sense of peace and Sc
curity.
Before indulging in hasty judgment
Of Japan's motives and purposes, 1t Is
the duty of other peoples to look at
them through her spectacles. As to
naval expansion, the Toxic government
now proposes to do no more than that
which the United States Is just pro-
ceeding to do, namely, to build up the
fleet to the full limit permitted by
the treaty Of London. Indeed, Japan's
primary reason for planning to spend
the record sum Of $3.50, ,40o. 900 on her
navy during the next fiscal year, or
thirty per cent more than the previous
highest naval appropriations, Is said
to be the present naval budget Of this
country.
Japan, for better or for worse. hav-
ing committed herself to extensive po-
litical and military engagements in
Manchuria and elsewhere ON the Asiatic
mainland, feels obligated to caparison
herself in corresponding military might.
She looks upon herself as politically
and automatically isolated by the atti-
tude Of the League Of Nations In the
Manchurian affair and considers it the
part of fundamental self-preservation
to be prepared single-handed for any
military eventualities that can ensue
from the situation which Geneva Gre
ated
AS to sea power, too, the japanese
are said mainly to be looking forward
to the Naval Conference Of 1885. With
feet in commission or under construc-
ton measuring up to the full limits Of
the London treaty, Japan's statesmen
think they would be in better strategic
position to enforce their long cherished
demand for naval parity with the
United States and Great Britain.
1t Is an ambitious program for an
island power with the restricted finan-
cial and economic resources of Japan.
Her people are still in the throes Of
burdensome depression, like the rest of
the world, and are carrying, besides,
heavy load of taxation. 1t will be for
the nation to decide whether it can
stand the new fiscal strain which the
muitarist party would now impose upon
it. To date the people of Nippon have
been docile and uncomplaining, for their
sense of patriotism and national pride
Is deep, but patience may be strained
by such unprecedented sacrifices as the
war lords are now demanding. In that
direction seems to lie the Western
worlds main hope Of checking the
defense" excesses to which the Arakis
and Osumis would lead Japan, regard
less Of economic consequences. While
building up to London treaty limits at
sea, they may find themselves ap-
preaching dangerously near the limits
Of Tapanesa endurance