JAPAN AND MANDATES

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 November 1934, Page 7

JAPAN AND MANDATES

ADMIRAL’S PLAIN WORDS. [by CABLE —PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.] (Recd. November 17, 10 a.m.) TOKIO, November 16. Vice Admiral Sankichi Takahashi, who yesterday succeeded Admiral Suetsugu as commander of the combined battle fleet, declared there was not the slightest question of Japan holding the mandates, regardless of leaving the League of Nations, and if the League, or anybody else tries to recover the islands, they will find the Imperial navy fully prepared for every eventuality. He said that the navy would reject all treaty schemes of fictitious parity, such as was broached at London, and would be satisfied with’nothing except full actual equality.

NAVAL NEGOTIATIONS. WASHINGTON, November 16. The United States has under consideration British overtures for joint action in naval affairs in the event of the tri-party discussions, now in progress at London, ending in failure. The Secretary of State, Senator Cordell Hull, carrying full details of the British proposals, boarded President’s Roosevelt’s special train on Thursday night to discuss important questions with the President as he speeds towards Tennessee Valley. Senator Hull is to return to Washington on Saturday, and it is not likely that any reply will be made to London until then. It was reported that Japan’s insistence on equality had led the British delegates to make overtures to Mr Norman. Davis (American representative) on Wednesday.

CONTROL OF ARMAMENTS. [BRITISH OFFICIAL WIRELESS.] RUGBY, November 16. Mr J. H. Thomas, in a speech at Newport, said that neither directly nor indirectly, was there any secret agreement which involved Britain in; any commitment or the Continent of Europe. They were faced with many difficulties, and elements were abroad over Europe which created a war spirit, namely, suspicion, ill-will and mistrust, but he saw no warrant, or justification for the war talk now prevalent. Dealing with the question of traffic in arms, he appreciated the anxiety felt on the subject. Britain, however, was the only country which had a licensing system for export of armaments by means of which effective Government control could be exercised, and to his knowledge millions of pounds worth of orders in the last three years had, as a consequence of this system, been refused. They had also refused, and would continue to refuse, Government credit of any kind to the manufacture of armaments. He wished other nations would follow the example. He would welcome an enquiry into the situation regarding private manufacture and national control of armaments. He believed it would show results of which they would have no reason to feel ashamed.

ARSENAL SITE REMOVED. LONDON, November 16. The “Daily Herald” says: “The Cabinet, on the advice of the Committee of Imperial Defence, has decided to remove the Woolwich Arsenal to the west coast. High officials of the War Office and of the Admiralty are considering sites there, and the decision will depend on such matters as the defendability of sites from air raids, and on railway and harbour facilities.