Evening star., 1934-12-06
i. s. ENVOY WARNS
JAPANESE AGAINST
SCRAPP|NC PACTS
Davis Declares Abrogation
of Naval Treaties Spells
Discord.
REVEALS R00SEVELT'S
DISARMAMENT POLICY
British Suggest Toxic Explain
Plans for Future After Aban.
doning 5-5-3 Ratio.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
LONDON, December 6-In the first
public statement of United States pol
Icy since the tri-poWer naval CONVEX
sation began, Norman H. Davis,
United States Ambassador at Large,
said today that abandonment of the
Washington and London naval trea-
ties would lead to conditions of in
security. international suspicion and
costly competition, with no real ad-
vantage to any nation"
This statement. regarded as warn
Ing to Japan, was made before the
American Correspondents Association
at luncheon.
Heretofore, all statements on the
American policy have been released
through delegation spokesman.
Davis declared that The American
Government stands for the contin-
uance" of the principles of the two
treaties.
japanese Urged to Explain.
Sir John Simon, British foreign
secretary. met with Ambassador
Tsuneo Matsudaira today and urged
that the Japanese explain as soon as
possible what they intend to do after
they denounce the Washington treaty.
The British foreign secretary also
suggested that if the japanese had
any new proposals to make they should
do so as quickly as possible. The
japanese Ambassador replied that he
would confer with the other members
OF his delegation.
Admiral William H. Standley of the
United States explained the American
pulldlng program at the luncheon and
SAID all construction in the United
States Navy, except that of aircraft
carriers. was entirely replacement
work.
Yearly U. S. Plan Forecast.
He said the United States Navy had
so many over-age ships on account of
delay in replacements that the neces-
sary building has been piling up, but
IN the future the United States will
have regular yearly program.
If Great Britain or Japan lay down
IS to 20 ships each year" said the
admiral, nothing is thought about it;
but when We do it, there is a sensa-
ton. From now on we will avoid that
by regular replacement"
The American Ambassador -at-Large
also announced for the first time that
President Roosevelt has proposed "a
substantial all-around reduction in
naval ornaments" Since no agree
ment to reduce has been reached, the
envoy told the correspondents the
United States strongly advocates con-
tinuing the Washington and London
treaties with their assurance of equal
1ty Of security"
Japanese spokesmen have served
notice that Japan will denounce the
Washington treaty. which gives the
Far Eastern nation the smaller end
Of 5-5-3 ratio)
Held Significant Statement.
The speech was the first compre-
hensive public pronouncement of the
American position since the tri-party
discussions opened. 1t is considered
of high significance.
The Washington conference put an
end to ruinous naval race" Davis
said, and established "a sound basis
foK peace in the Pacific and the Far
East"
only by maintenance of the sys-
tenn of equality of security. with
proportionate reductions downward of
naval strength if possible" he de-
clared, can there be maintained the
substantial foundation for security
and peace which has thus been laid.
Abandonment now of the princi-
pals involved would lead to conditiol..
of insecurity. of international sus-
picion, and of costly competition, with
no real advantage to any nation"
Great Britain, Japan and the United
States discovered at the Washington
conference, he explained, that it was
to reach an agreement
through academic discussion of a ma
tion's naval needs or what it re-
quired to satisfy its national pride.
Through cooperation, Davis de-
clared, the nations concerned in pro-
noting peace in the Far East and Pa
ciflc reached agreements which "es-
tablished an equilibrium of political
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