Evening star., 1935-12-08
JAPAN THREATENS
SUCCESSOR PARLEY
Delegates Will Refuse Dis
cussions Unless Parity
Demand Is Met.
Ey the Associated Press.

81 the Associated PresS.
LONDON, December Japan an
nounced fatty today she demanded alb
solute naval parity with the United
States and Great Britain. The an
nouncement threw even more gloom
about the international conference
opening Monday.
It was this japanese demand which
caused the breakup Of an unsuccess-
ful preliminary conference early this
year between the United States, Japan
and Great Britain.
To enforce their position, the
japanese said no other question can
be discussed until their demand is
met. Their country Is now on the
short end of o 5-5-3 ratio with
Great Britain and the United States.
The Japanese position was conveyed
to the British admiralty at con-
ference which the Oriental delega-
ton asked specially.
Japan, the delegates clearly stated,
Is not prepared to accept any pro-
posals for exchange of building pro-
gram unless there is definite agree
fnent on the question Of total ton
nages.
Demands Not Answered.
The British representatives did not
answer the japanese demands and
made no commitments. It was ex-
planned at the Japanese headquarters
that the action was taken because of
the feeling the British and others
might be under Misrepresentation re-
garding the japanese viewpoint on a
common upper limit of tonnages. BY
a common upper limit, the delegates
explained, they mean an actual, not
q theoretical, equality Of fleets.
Negotiations between the five great
powers attending-France and Italy
in addition to Britain, the United
states and Japan-will either lead
to an agreement replacing the wash
tneton and London naval limitation
treaties, which expire next year, OF
to a naval building race, observers
are agreed.
The British will confer separately
tomorrow with each delegation to lay
the groundwork for the talks.
Although breakup Of the parley Il
freely predicted in some quarters. the
complications are so grave they ma!
eventually drive the sea powers to-
gether into continued limitation be-
cause of fears of the alternative.
Beset With Complications.
The conference, the third naval par
lev held since the World War, is bese
with international complications, in
cluding the war in Africa, the Sino
Japanese question, and tenseness IL
Central Europe.
Deliberations will open in the Lo
carno room Of the foreign Office, witt
Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin de-
livering the address of welcome. Head.
of the various delegations will reply
with brief addresses.
Americas delegation, headed BY
Norman H. Davis, has indicated he
will weigh all proposals with an oper
mind, but Is determined not to sacri.
fee any of the country's interests
The conference is expected to last fol
several months.
Although the British and American
delegations did not express thet
stands on the Japanese demands
there was every indication that they
will continue to oppose change in the
existing status Of navies, and will seek
to reach a compromise despite the
strong japanese attitude.
/, The Japanese delegates executed
Unusual rnaneuvers by inauguratine
. seperate advance discussions with the
British and French in advance of the
formal opening Of the conference
Monday.
Program Is Outlined.
Although they had previously talked
over the usual formalities, Admiral
Osami Nsgano and Matsuzo Nagai
the chief japanese delegates, requested
q new conference at the British ad-
miralty and voluntarily outlined an
aggressive program, designed to
achieve actual equality with the Brit
ish and American navieS.
A well-informed source stated the
Japanese would definitely reject any
such proposal as that discussed early
this year by Sir Ernie Chatfield, Brit
ish admiral, and the Japanese vice
admiral, Isoroku Yamamoto. Under
that plan Japan would achieve the
equivalent Of a 5-5-4 ratio within
six years.
That proposed compromise, said
Japanese sources, made bad i'm
preston on Japanese naval circles.
The Japanese delegation informed
the British they also did not favor
q mutual exchange Of future building
programs unless an agreement was
reached for common upper limits
which would give Japan equality.
q Admiral Nagano conferred briefly
with the French naval commander
n-chief, Admiral Durand viel
"A French spokesman declared an
unknown element" the German
navy, would play an important role in
the conference, and would have a
strong effect on the French attitude.
The American, Italian and French
delegations will call on the British
group tomorrow afternoon.