Evening star., 1938-03-04
OTADEN|ESU.S.
NEED Of DEFENSE
in SPEECH TO DIET
"Sorry for America" if
Hawaii and Alaska
Are Fortified.
MEANS EXPENSE FUTILE
IN FACE OF SECURITY
Premier Says TOXIC Is Ready
to Talk Navy Reductions.
Mentions Hull Notes.

BACKGROUND
Japan's armed forces hare taken
oUer large section OF Chinese ter
ritory in an effort to queH alleged
dnti-JapuneSe activities on the
continent. The Mikado,s govern
D'ent has repeatedly taken stand
against encroachment of Com
muntsna in Asia, leading to charges
that Toxic is trying to dominate the
continent OF Asia commercially and
islands OF the Pacific politically.
BS the Associated Press.
TOXIC, March 4-Japan's Foreign
Minister Hirota, urging world naval
reduction by abolishing all large war
ships, told parliamentary budget
committee today he was sorry for
America" if the United States we're
building Pacific Coast defenses in fear
of Japan.
Hirota told the committee relations
with the United States were friendly
when a committee member broke in
to ask:
But it seems the United States is
fortifying Hawaii and Alaska. Does
the foreign minister believe the Amer
lcan people fully understand Japan"
"Japan's policy toward the United
States already was made clear in my
speech opening the Diet. We are
doing our best to promote friendship
through an exchange of messages with
Secretary Hull.
This policy will be unchanged in
the future.
However, if it is true the United
States is fortifying the Pacific Coast
to provide against Japan, am sorry
for America
Alludes to Expense.
foreign Office spokesman said later
that while L am sorry for America"
was literal translation of Hirota's
words, the meaning to Americans and
to japanese was different.
Hirota's meaning might be expressed
| better, the foreign office spokesman
said, thus: Il am sorry America feels
the necessity of taking such a step
| Which is an unnecessary expenditure
because Japan has no intention O.
attacking"
Turning to naval building, Hirota
t told queStioners:
Japan would welcome the oppor-
tunity to discuss the question OF
naval reduction with the powers.
If such opportunity appears. the
japanese government will propose the
total abolition of capital ships"
Capital ships. defined by the
1922 naval treaties. are those
not aircraft carriers, of more than
/ 10000 tons and with guns of
/ more than 8-inch caliber.
(The suggestion was the most
direct by japanese since the Toxic
government refused to divulge her
naval building program at the re-
quest of the United States, Britain
and France after reports japan
was building battleships of more
than $4,000 tons-the limit set in
the London naval treaty of which
the three Western powers are
signatories)
War Minister Apologies.
Parliament apparently gained pon.
IN Its bitter, protracted conflict with
the government over the national mo-
ollization bill when the powerful min
lister OF war, Gen. Gen Sugiyama. apol.
ogl7ed to a House of Representative
committee for the conduct of an ARM
officer who told committee members to
shut up"
1t. Col. Masaki Sato OF the war
ofice's military affairs bureau, ap-
peared unannounced before the COM
mlttee and began harangue on pa
triotism. supporting the bill. Members
quickly questioned his status and ell
glblllty to speak
On the Diet floor itself. lawmakers
heard brief revival of discussion on
the sinking of the United States gun
boat Panay by japanese Navy bombers
near Marking December H.
A representative. referring to the
incident, recommended that the navy
appoint officers more familiar with
international questions" to posts where
such questions might arise.
He received a reply from Admiral
Mitsumasa Yonai, naval minister, that
the Panay bombing was the result of
inadequate communications and that
steps had been taken to remedy the
| situation.