DISARMAMENT.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19805, 18 December 1929, Page 4

DISARMAMENT.

LIMITATION OF NAVIES. WHAT JAPAN WILL SEEK. (.USITED PRESS ASSOCIATION"—BV ELECTRIC TELEOS APH—COP VRIC.BT.) (Received December 17th, 7 p.m.) WASHINGTON. December li 3. Mr Wakatsuki, in answer to queries to-night at the Japanese Embassy from reporters, replied in a manner indicating that th« .1 a panes* Gover.'in>ent will contend for a modified form of global warship tonnage. winch would insure for its navy seventy per cent, of the highest number of ten thousand ton cruisers allocated to the nation which was given the greatest tonnage in ships of that class, and a higher tonnage percentage of submarines than it was supposed that Japan would request, but without contending for the right to build stibmar'nes of less than six hundred tons without limit as to the number. There was also the expression of the hope that battleships would ultimately be abolished as naval weapons, although Mr Wakatsuki made it clear that the time for their abolition had not arrived. He also gave an assurance that his delegation would enter the London Conference "with an open mind" and with a willingness to declare its further adherence to the Kellogg Pact. Mr Wakatsuki was unable to state whether such a declaration would be incorporated in any treaty concluded at London, but his expression thereupon fits in importantly with the desire of Britain and the United States to make the Pact the cornerstone of any naval disarmament agreement. Mr Wakatsuki said that there was no idea at present of Japan raising the question of Britain's base at Singapore, and she had not been informed whether Britain was likely to abandon the Singapore project. He added, smilingly, "Of course, it would be welcome." THE JAPANESE PROGRAMME. FOUR POINTS OUTLINED. (Received December 17th, 8 p.m.) WASHINGTON, December 16. Mr Wakatsuki further indicated that the Japanese delegation desired to follow the following programme:— First, having the Conference fix the total tonnage for auxiliary ships for each nation, but with the modification that the number and tonnage of ships of the cruiser, destroyer, and submarine classes be fixed. Second, that if the United .States we-e allotted 21 or 18 ten-thousand-ton cruisers to 15 for Britain, Japan will wish for 70 per cent, of the highest number of such ships. Third, that the Japanese problem being wholly defensive, and contending that submarines as well as cruisers are necessary for her defence, Japan wishes the Conference to determine some limitation of the whole tonnage allotted to each nation, leaving to each nation the determination of the tonnage of submarines to be built within the total allotted tonnage. Fourth, that Japan is willing to take less than 70 per cent, allotment of one j or another class of auxiliary ships if the deducted tonnage, as from destroyers, could be added to ships of another type, such as submarines or cruisers.