JAPAN’S HAND FORCED

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 194, 14 May 1936, Page 9

JAPAN’S HAND FORCED

Reason For Army and Navy Expenditure MINISTER’S STATEMENTS By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Tokio, May 12. Explaining the increasing naval expenditure, Admiral Nagano and General Teraucbi at a secret Budgetary session of the Diet pleaded that Japan’s hand was forced by Americas programme and Russia’s warlike preparations. Admiral Nagano, Minister of the Navy, is reported to have said that Japan requires a fleet equal to the strongest in the West Pacific, and added that equality of strength did notne cessarily mean numerical equality. “As a result of the forthcoming expiration of naval treaties,” he said, “we will enjoy freedom as, regards quality and iu the category of seaworthiness need only build vessels suited to national

requirements.” He said that the United States was preparing to build 70,009 tons yearly during the next decade and Britain 84,000 tons. He hinted that Japan would build 50,000 tons. General Teraucbi, War Minister, repeated that the Soviet is maintaining over 200,000 troops in East Siberia, 50 submarines at Vladivostock, and aircraft capable of raiding Japanese cities. In reply to questions, General Terauchi admitted that the Japanese army had rejected a non-aggresslon pact with the Soviet, but lie argued that such a pact would be of little value. Admiral Nagano announced that the Japanese naval construction averaged 22,000 tons a year between 1931 and 1935, compared with Britain’s 33,000 tons and the United States’ 48,000.