Evening star., 1934-11-24
Japan's Naval Attitude.


night the japanese Ambassador to the
United States, Hirosi Saito, discussed
his countrys naval policy with COM
plete candor. His remarks coincide
with the breakdown of the London
conversations, which had as their pur-
pose the preparation for the 1885 con-
ference and eventual renewal of
existing naval limitation treaties, eS-
pecially the ratio principle.
In unequivocal language Mr. Saito
serves notice that Japan intends to
terminate the Washington treaty of
1922 and that his government will
never again submit to any ratio ar
rangement that leaves the Japanese
Navy in a state of inferiority. In
equality, the ambassador declares. with
its assertion of moral superiority" on
the part of the countries with the
higher ratios, lis something which the
Japanese susceptibility cannot tolerate
something to which no man with a
sense of honor will remain reconciled.''
Japan thus frankly reveals that her
prestige is her principal governing mo-
tive in demanding equality at sea with
Great Britain and the United States.
Ambassador Saito seems to impugn
ulterior purposes to the British and
the Americans in declining to abolish
capital ships. Need for such vessels"
he argues, may well be justified when
war in distant waters is envisaged; not
when only security in home waters is
contemplated" Mr.. Saito asserts that
Japan is ready to join in scrapping all
battleships and aircraft carriers and
:n reducing the tonnage of 8-inch-gun
cruisers, or, in other words, to cut her
present naval strength of 100000 tons
in half, if other sea powers will agree
to corresponding action. The Am
bassador expresses the view that under
the parity system naval reduction will
be easier and make new deal pos
sible on a more reasonable basis
Throughout Ambassador Saitos ad-
dress runs the plea that Japan's sole
aim is establishment of law and order
and the advancement of peace and
prosperity in the Far East. and that
her demand for naval equality springs
from no other ambitions. But the
Western World is not likely to be
diverted by such contentious from the
conviction that Japan's actual and
irrevocable program is to remain the
master of Asia and to make he- sway
In that region of the Pacific unchal-
lengeable from any quarter.
1t is gratifying that the abortive
conversations in London have ended
with Anglo-American solidarity in
tact on all basic issues involved
The British and American Govern
ratio principle of the Washington
treaty. They believe now, as they be-
leved in 1922, that their respective
interests in the Far East and the
world at large require the margins of
naval strength agreed upon at that
time.
Japan is determined to go her own
way. Unquestionably that will mean
expanded building programs for both
Britain and the United States. In
this country such a prospect is con-
templated with regret, for the Amer
lean people are sincerely welded to
the ideal of reduction in armaments
by international agreement, but they
will not shrink from the consequences,
however costl", that Japan's attitude
may make unavoidable. Our far-1ung
coast lines on two oceans, our over
seas commerce, our outlying posses
sions and our interest in preserving
the open-door principle in China
these are the factors requiring the
Caliber and extent of American naval
power which existing treaties provide
for. For its maintenance and for
such increase of it as future conditions
may demand the country will be
found prepared to make the necessary
sacrifices. 1t will do so all the more
readily because of the consciousness
that the United States Navy is an
instrument that will never be used for
aggression. Renewed competition in
navy building does not augur for
more amicable relations in a peace
craving world, but it looks as if it
were inevitable.