PEACE IN THE PACIFIC.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 124, 28 May 1925, Page 7

PEACE IN THE PACIFIC.

JAPAN'S INTENTIONS. NO AGGRESSIVE MOVE. TOKYO. May IG. Admiral Hyo Takarabo. Minister of the Navy, in a speech at the welcome dinner to tlie officers of 11.M.A.5. Brisbane, said that ships of the Japanese. Niivy had been frequent visitor; to Australia, where they had always been welcomed and entertained. He had therefore keenly awaited the opportunity to reciprocate. His only regret was tliat the Brisbane's stay would be too short to do what hi? people, desired. ''Yet we sincprly hope."' lie adde.l, "that our true enthusiasm will be well understood, and that yon will not grudge tlie trouble of conveying our sentiments to your countrymen, towards whom we want to express a most friendly greeting. "Let mc also wjs'i that tins pood feeling between us will be a real basis for co-operation in the future, as in the past, a= guardians of the Pacific.' , Discussing the Japanese naval policy, the Tokyo correspondent of "The Times'' says that while the Japanese, like 6thers. are determined to pos-es; as strong a navy as pofsiblc, within the hound?_of the undertakings to which ?he has put her name, it is a mistake to suggest that Japan is preparing a provocatively extensive programme of naval construction. "The preparedness which is the virtue in the West,' , he says, "can, after all, hardly be judged a vice in the r^ast." It does not appear that the Japanese, have any deliberate intention of exceeding the. letter and spirit of the 1922-iA programme, which was drawn up after the Washington Conference, and which already has been prolonged as a rc3nlt of the' 102:3 earthquake.