NAVAL AFFAIRS.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17104, 28 March 1921, Page 7

NAVAL AFFAIRS.

JAPAN'S PROGRAMME,

COMPETITION WITH U.S.A. , ' DENIED.

' CBr Ciblfr—Pre&3 Association—Copyright.) "d N.Z. Cabu> Awociatwn TOKIO, March 25. The Diet adopted the Budget, to which it attached a resolution warning tho nation that public discipline generally was deteriorating through tlie growing difficulty of making a living, on account of tho Government maladministration. The Budget Committee of tlje House of Representatives brought up the reports regarding the United States con- . centration of naval power in the Pacific. An interpolator expressed the opinion that if tho report were true it was the duty of the Japanese naval authorities to study a counter-policy. Viscount Kato replied that the rumour had not been verified. There was every reason to believe that it was groundless, hut, even if it, were true. f • the position was of such grave diplomatic importance that a discussion in the House would be undesirable. Viscount Kato, in an interview, said he regretted that sinster propagandists and mischief-makers were trying to attribute Japan's naval programme to a desire to compete with the United States. Nothing could be more preposterous or absurd. The Japanese programme was formulated so that Japan could be defended against any emergency arising in the Far East alone. Tho projected fleet of eight ■battleships and eight battle-cruisers, jnot over eight years old, was not neces- , sfirilv irreducible. Japan had joined ihc League of Nations, and, by so doing. suported the principle of'the reduction, of armaments. Whenever, there " <tvas an international conference he would be only too glad to co-operate honestly with other Governments to effect this principle. * President Muto, of the Japanese Association of Trade, interviewed, said: Japan will' find herself the enemy of •. all the world if she persists in her naval :' expansion programme, which is leading Jjer along the .path that Germany and oypry other militaristic nation trod. The i f nj.ted States, in 1921. will be spending a tenth of her national income on ajftnaments, and Japan half. lam con- ; vinced, as I read America's history, . that America would never fight an ag- ' gressive war, hence an American-Japa-nese war is impossible while Japan abides by the principle of-right "and justice.

CENSORSHIP IN FORCE.

J (Received March 27th, 5.5 p.mj WASHINGTON, March 26. The says! radio station refused to •«: «na to Tokio a Press despatch quoting Admiral Gleayes, who declared in a speech at Boston that Japan would > equal the United States naval power by !s 1926. It is that while the cen- ( sopsfeip is seldom exercised, operators fcfvve orders to submit for approval all ' articles for which the United States Government might be held account- ! flble.

TOpB OF AMERICAN FLEET.

(Received March 271 ft, 11.5 p.m.) WASHINGTON, March 26. TJwb AastroDwi Press Association iatompwed Mr Roosevelt, who during Mr f nfoence in- -tine Eastern Stales is acting as Secretary of the Navy. He saidthe Commander-in-Chief of the Station some months ago wa« • directed to prepare a tentative itinerary f»r » cruise by a certain portion of Mie Pacific Fleet to the South Sea Islands, tfffr Zealand and Australia. The new Administration had not this |j|i))»ttery aitd may not do so until the Jjayal- aro-passed, as tin : the economy pf fuel.must thorough consideration.