Evening star., 1933-01-26
JAPAN TO BOLSTER
ITS AIR DEFENSES
Military Leaders Reject,
However, Proposal for
Separate Ministry.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
TOXIC. January 26.-Gen. Sadao
Araki, minister Of war, and Admiral
Mineo Osumi, minister of the navy,
replying to an interpellator In the
House Of Peers today, said the army
and navy were striving their utmost
to provide the empire with adequate
air defenses
They contended that national interest
in aviation was greatly heightened and
that the 1933-1934 budget appropriated
funds for further important improve
ments.
Admiral Osumi rejected the idea Of
an air ministry In addition to the army
and navy departments, asserting that
Japanese leaders concurred with Amer
lean leaders in recent studies leading
to rejection Of such plan.
1t was authoritativeIy disclosed that
the navy building program Admiral
Osumt announced January % will add
several squadrons to naval aviation,
increasing the numbers and units Of
planes nearly so per cent In the next
four years.
Meanwhile the cabinet is delaying its
decision whether Japan shall withdraw
from the League Of Nations until the
government learns the exact nature OF
the recommendations for settling the
Sino-Japanese conflict. which will be
made by the League Assembly's Com
mittee of Nineteen.
Great Danger Ahead"
This was learned from an authorita-
tive source after newspapers carried an
account OF special cabinet session at
which Foreign Minister Uchida warned
his colleagues they must prepare shortly
to make a decision Of grave import
The newspapers printed stories of the
cabinet meeting under such bold head
lines as Grave Decision Confronting
Empire" and Great Danger Ahead"
The ministerial session was held
after Count Uchida had been informed
that the League had virtually aban-
doned efforts to obtain a conciliatory
settlement Of the dispute with China.
1t was generally believed that the gov
ernment would feel compelled to with
draw from the League II the Commit
tee OF Nineteen's report accused Japan
OF territorial aggression or violation of
the League covenant, the Kellogg
BRAND pact or the nine-power act.
The crisis over Manchuria has re-
suited in new parliamentary repercus-
sions. Following reports that discus
sion OF the Manchurian policy in the
Diet Monday caused a sensation in
League Of Nations circles in Geneva, a
demand was made that Hitoshi Ashida
who questioned the government con-
cerning its activities abroad, retract
statements made In the lower house,
Ashida Amends Speech.
Mr.. AShida had said that "a ploornv
situation" ruled relations between the
united States and Japan. He had pre-
dicted that unless these relations were
improved they would result In renewed
ornaments competition and possibly In
a world war.
His statements in the Diet were made
as spokesman for the Seiyukai party.
He did not retract them, but he did ex
press regret that, because he did not
make himself clear he apparently had
been misunderstood.
Mr.. Ashida explained he meant to
uphold the governments policy toward
the League, but he believed that the
Manchurian problem was vital to Japan
and that the cabinet ought to do its
utmost to solve it. Count Uchida. the
Seiyukat spokesman continued, had
failed to bend his energies to this pur-
pose. He urged the foreign minister to
assist in efforts to break the Man
churian deadlock.