Evening star., 1934-12-30
Fears of Race
in Building
Manifest.
SAITO RETAINS
HOPE FOR PACT
Enjoys Denial of
Contest Is Given
Toxic Support.
BY the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
A quiet but definite refusal of Japa-
nese demands for naval equality was
the United States answer last night
to Japan's formal denunciation of the
Washington naval limitations treaty
of 1922.
Secretary Hull, accepting from
Hirosi Saito, suave Ambassador from
Japan, the official signal of the death
of the 5-5-3 pact on December 81,
1886, declared he did so with genuine
regret"
Pledging, simultaneously, continued
efforts to promote peace through dis
armament" by cooperating toward
new naval limitation, Hull. neverthe-
less, declared experience had shown
that equality of armanents" was not
the path to peace.
Talk Of Contest Secuted.
While a ferment of naval talk was
stirred around the world, leaving
question mark after the possibility
of an ensuing arms race, Saito secuted
talk of such a contest.
In handing in his country's denun-
citation of the Washington pact, he
expressed hope for a new treaty that
would provide equality for Japan, but
radical reduction" in offensive
armaments :or all of the great powers.
After formally flashing word of the
Japanese action to other great naval
nations, Hull late yesterday made
public his own answer. He was sorry
to see the pact die, he said, because
Of belief that existing treaties have
safeguarded the rights and promoted
the collective interests of all the
signatories."
1--WE, of course, realize" he said,
"that any nation has the right not to
renew a treaty; also that any move
ment toward disarmament to be sue
cessful must rest on agreements volun-
tarily entered into. =
Each nation naturally desires
and we stand unalterably for that
view-to be on a basis of absolute
equality with other nations in the
matter of national security. Expert
ence teaches that conditions of peace
or measures Of disarmament cannot
be promoted by the doctrine that all
nations, regardless of their varying
and different defensive needs, shall
have equality of armaments."
U. S. Ready for Negotiations.
Hull then said that in the remain
ing two-year period before the treaty
expires "the American Government is
ready to enter upon negotiations
1ryI,a q 4I,o% I, i,
pect of arrival at mutually satisfac-
tory conclusion"
The quietly executed final action
by Japan, anticipated for months,
nevertheless caused some stir both in
Washington and other capitals as
well.
From Toxic there was reiteration
that the announcement did not mean
a naval race and a renewed call for
naval slashes.
From Paris came expressions of
pleasure that the end of the pact was
assured two years from today.
simultaneously, but with officials
disclaiming any connection, Navy
chiefs disclosed plans for a gigantic
war game in the Pacific, covering a
100000 square mile area embracing
Americas most Western outposts.
Within matter of hours after AM
bassador Saito had formally delivered
the decision of his government, Secre-
tary Hull officially notified Great Brit
ain, France and Italy of the denuncia-
ton. No certified copies of the Jap
anese notification will be mailed to
the capitals of the three powers next
week.
Although Saito's action-in the
opinion of some officials-ushered in
an era of possible grave international
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