Evening star., 1934-10-24
Japan and Naval Equality


table at London, and naval conversa-
tions with Great Britain and the
United States can now proceed on
the basis of the tangible issues which
the japanese proposals raise. Am
bassador Matsudaira and Admiral
Yamamoto have sprung no surprises.
AS was well known in advance, Japan
demands abolition of the 515-3 ra-
tic and equality in principle" for
defensive armamentS" Her pro-
gram yesterday was formally sub
mitted to the British delegation, and
it was planned to present it to the
United States representatives, Am
bassador Davis and Admiral Stand
ley, today. Thereupon will ensue a
series of bi-lateral and tri-lateral
conversations" among the three
powers. the result of which cannot
possibly be foreseen at this time, and
which is sure to be obtained only at
the end of protracted discussion.
Britain and America stand to-
gether against Japan in insisting
upon continuance of the Washington
treaty of 1922 with it's ratio prin-
ciple and upon replacing the Lon
don treaty of 1880 with more salts
factory one. The British and Amer
leans also oppose Japan's desire to
abolish submarines. Britain and
Japan. on the other hand, jointly
are against the United States in
their wish to limit battleships to
$4,000 tons and reduce gun calibers
from sixteen to twelve inches.
Finally, this country, contrary to
Japan's program, is determined to
retain aircraft carriers. On this
point the British position has not yet
been revealed. An additional contro-
versy revolves around Britain's
special claim for seventy cruisers
instead of the fifty permitted by the
existing agreement.
But Japans ambition for parity
with the navies Of Great Britain and
the United States is the overshadow-
ing bone of contention at London.
If Nippon's claims are denied and
she carries out her intention of abro-
eating the treaty under which ratio
inferiority is imposed upon her. a
new competition in naval armaments
Is inevitable. Writing in the Novem-
Der number of the Current History
Magazine, Capt. Sekine of the Japa-
nese Imperial Navy declares that
while his country is aware Of the
serious implications Of race in naval
construction, the need for guarantee
ing national security is of much
greater Importance in the empires
eyes and it would be prepared to ac-
cept the challenge "if forced upon It,
While the Western world cannot
fathom the reasonableness of the
theory that Japan's national secur-
ity" is menaced to a degree that re-
quires expansion of her sea power.
that idea has been successfully drilled
into the nations mind and cannot
easily be removed. If Japan is not
permitted to build up to the level Of
British and American strength, she
bluntly suggests that the Western
navies be cut down to the size of the
Japanese fleet. Otherwise, Capt. Sc
kline, who advances that proposition,
points out that the Japanese will feel
that their national prestige" is I'M
paired and that their neighbors will
continue Ito hold them in contempt"
From such arguments it is plain
that Japan's pride and sense of honor
bulk largely in her naval demands
along with her actual defensive re-
quirements. The combination is one
that 1t will not be easy for statesman
ship at London to combat,