Evening star., 1935-01-13
BY PERTINAX.
.HE Japanese government has let
1t be known that 1t does not
wish the naval treaty Of Wash
| ington to continue beyond De-

1t be known that 1t does not
wish the naval treaty Of Wash
i ington to continue beyond De-
cember 81, 1896. BY doing so
it has made use of the right Of denun-
citation agreed to by the five sigma
tories in Article %; therefore it can
not be said to have infringed upon an
international commitment.
The Washington treaty of February,
1922, and its complement, the London
treaty of April, 1880, which set forth
and codified certain rules for the
limitation of naval ornaments, were
made possible by the fact that the
United States, England, Japan, France
and Italy had fought an exhausting
war side by side, that they had
achieved a sweeping victory and so
far had prevented serious causes OF
conflict arising between them. Un-
fortunately, that happy state of affairs
has ceased to exist. Little by little,
the problems of China and of the Pa
ciflc have involved the United States,
England and Japan in serious con-
troversy-particularly the United
States and Japan, since the London
cabinet in recent months has evinced
a distinct tendency to maneuver for
some kind of rough understanding
with Toxic and no longer backs the
challenge thrown at the latter's face
by the League of Nations early in 1888.
In addition, France and Italy have
seriously fallen away from each other
in Central Europe. This has made
one of the main features Of the 1922
treaty-the principle of Franco
Italian naval parity-hardly tolerable
for France. Finally, German navy
is being methodically rebuilt; this un-
avoidably impels France to insist upon
q larger share of maritime power and
upon greater freedom in the selection
Of types of warships. It can be re-
marked, too, that Russian navy is
emerging on the skyline and that 1t
will contribute whatever it Is worth to
upsetting the present balance.
Doomed in 1880.
On all accounts the treaty of Wash
ington has been doomed for q long
time. The first blow was struck at it
in April, 1880, when France and Italy
refused to append their signatures to
part 8 of the treaty Of London. Seen
in that light, the initiative taken by
Japan does not come as bolt from
the blue. A process Of disintegration
had gone on for q certain number Of
years. The Japanese government, as
1t can afford to act more independent
ly than France toward the Anglo
Saxon countries, has deemed it op-
perfume to bring it speedily to its
logical conclusion.
On November IS the French Am
bassador in Toxic was asked q direct
question by the Japanese ministry OF
foreign affairs. Would France agree
to join Japan in the denunciation Of
the treaty Of Washington, since that
denunciation was in keeping with her
own point Of view? The French min
istry of foreign affairs settled the
matter within q minimum time; it
took care not to consult fully with the
ministry Of marine about it, and q
thorough discussion in the ministerial
council was avoided.
M. Laval and his oficials came to
the conclusion that as Japan had to
draw the chestnuts out Of the IRE,
there was no reason why France
should burn her fingers. Either Great
Britain and the United States, they
felt. would be impressed BY the Jsps-