Evening star., 1934-10-23
Would Substitute Maximum
Tonnage Limit for Present
Ratios, Hinting Actual Ri
vaIry Abroad Is Out.
EACH NATION WOULD
BUILD UP TO OWN FIGURE
End of Aggressive War by Dras'
tic Cut in offensive" Ships
Urged by Toxic in Outlining
General Plans to English Lead
ers at Conference.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
LONDON, October 23.-Japan ad
vanced far-reaching plan for a new
naval treaty today, based upon the
principle Of equality in defensive
armanents and substituting a maxi
mum tonnage limitation for the pres
ent ratios.
The eagerly awaited program wa!
laid down in a bilateral conference
with representatives of great Britain
The two countries are comforting with
the United States, preliminary to tht
1885 Naval Conference
The main points Toxic wants, Il
was learned, are as follows:
/. The powers should first agree
on the principle of equality of
ornaments, based on needs for ma
tional defense.
2 Abolition of the present 5-5-3
ratio system and the substitution
of maximum tonnage limit, each
nation to determine her own cate
gorieS and to have freedom of
action in building to the limit
which is set. (No figures were sug-
ReSCeQ as a LmlL.)
3. Elimination of aggressive war;
fare by a drastic reduction of
offensive ships and reclassifica-
ton of fleets on defensive basis.
1Only broad outlines of the plan
were presented by the Japanese dele
gates, Ambassador Tsuneo Matsudaira
and Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto. Di-
rect figures and technical references
were avoided.
Based on Equality.
The Japanese made clear the entire
plan, which would substitute for the
London and Washington naval trea-
ties, is based on the principle of
equality, and that principle must be
accepted or an agreement is impos-
sible.
At the same time they hinted actual
tonnage equality with the United
States and Great Britain will not be
demanded or expected.
The first meeting lasted for an hour
and half and probably will be re-
sumed tomorrow, but no date was
stated. A spirit of marked cordiality
was apparent.
Premier Ramsay Macdonald well
coined the japanese delegates and
their experts.
MatSudaira, it was understood did
not refer directly to aircraft carriers
or battleships in demanding a reduc-
tion in offensive ships and did not
suggest any increase in specific types
of defense vessels, such as the SUBJ
marine, which Japan regards as de-
fensive.
Yamamoto indicated such details
will be revealed only after the British
consider the general plan and discus
sion on the general outline is COM
pleted
To Meet United States Soon
An official communique issued after
the meeting said "the first meeting
between the japanese and United
Kingdom representatives was held at
No. 10 Downing street and a general
exchange of views took place in refer
ence to future limitation of naval
armamentS. It is understood the Jap
anese representatives next will meet
with representatives of the United
States.
"A further meeting between jap
anese and United Kingdom repre-
sentatives will be held October g."
The names of members of the dele
cations were appended to the
communique.
Immediately after the meeting q
cabinet meeting was held While it
was officially denied the special session
had anything to do with naval mat
ters, some quarters assumed the Jap,
anese proposals were discussed. 1t
was announced the japanese will meet
the Americans tomorrow.
British quarters appeared somewhat
optimistic after the meeting, but Of
ficials declined to be drawn into a
discussion on what possibility there
may be for an agreement.