NAVAL TREATY DENOUNCED

Greymouth Evening Star, 31 December 1934, Page 5

NAVAL TREATY DENOUNCED

JAPAN’S DECISION COMPETITION NOT FEARED [BY CABLE —PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.] WASHINGTON, December 29. Japan has officially informed the United States, through her Ambassador, Hirto Saito, that the Washington Naval Treaty is being denounced by Japan on Monday, December 31. At noon, to-day, Ambassador Saito smiling and apparently unconcerned, delivered to Senator Hull, Japan’s for-mal-notification of her denunciation of the Naval Treaty. Such an event was, of course, anticipated, and had for several weeks been discounted, but the formal action has produced a flood of reaction from various •sources.

The Ambassador expressed the hope that a new Treaty will be agreed upon within the next two years. Japan, M. Saito said, was willing to discard half of her navy if a “common maximum limit” for the United States,' Britain, and the Far Eastern Empire is established. The Ambassador declared that he was “not at all anxious” about the possibility of a naval race. He said: “The people concerned are all intelligent, and their Governments are rational. None wishes to engage in damaging naval competition.” Senator Hull formally accepted the notification on behalf of the Government. He announced that he, would transmit the decision to the other signatory Powers. He issued a statement saying that he accepted 'it with “genuine regret.” He declared that America stands for equality of security, rather than for equality of armaments.

JAPANESE REASONS. TOKIO, December 29. The Foreign Office, in a statement, after referring to Japan’s efforts for the co-operation of the other Powers to secure a naval agreement, says: “The Japanese Government are convinced that the cause of disarmament will be best served and the security of the Powers permanently assured by an equitable agreement, founded on the following principles, which have been submitted to the other Powers: “Firstly: In view of the extraordinary development of warships, aircraft,' and other weapons, the existing Naval Treaties, recognised an inequality of armaments, no longer secure the Japanese national defence, for which reason a new Treaty should not be based on any ratios, but on an agreed, common upper limit. “Secondly: The disarmament limit should be the lowest one possible; and in order to render it difficult for any Power to attack another, but easy to defend itself, the offensive arms should be totally abolished or should be drastically reduced while the defensive arms should be adequate. “In view of these basic principles the Japanese Government finds it impossible to acquiesce in the continuation of the Washington Treaty, permitting the retention of offensive arms and admitting naval disparity, through the ratio. The inferior ratio, which is so detrimental to our national prestige, would be the source of permanent and profound' discontent to our people. Consequently, the Government have long felt it. incumbent to notify the termination of the Treaty at the end of 1936 —namely, at the expiation.of its stipulated life, of which the English and American Governments are early being given fairly clear intimation.” * The statement adds: “We are prepared, despite the termination of the Treaty, to pursue, with undiminished zeal, friendly negotiations. We firmly believe that when the Powers appreciate the essential fairness of our claims and consent to a sweeping reduction in armaments, based on the Japanese proposals, then full security will be afforded to the Powers by the elimination of any possible menace, and that an enduring peace will be established.”

ALLEGED CONSPIRACY. TOKIO, December 29. The police reveal that they foiled a plot to assassinate Prince Saionji. the statesman, M. Takahashi the Finance Minister; Count Makino, Lord Privy Seal; and Baron Iwasaki, the head of the Mitsubishi interests. The plot was to have been enacted by a band of seven men and one woman, two of whom were assigned to each victim. _ Recently, there have been rumours oi plots, including one against Okada, due to the delay in denouncing the Washington Treaty.

U.S.A. FLEET MANOEUVRES. SAN PEDRO (California) Dec. 29. Admiral Reeves, Commander of the United States Fleet, has announced manoeuvre plans of an unparalelled scope throughout the East Pacific early in the coming summer, the Fleet, venturing almost to Oriental waters. The Fleet will consist of 177. surface ships, 477 aeroplanes, and the dirigible “Macon.” There will be fifty-five thousand officers and men engaged. FRENCH OPINION. (Recd. December 31, 10.30 a.m.). PARIS. December 30. 3 France’s reaction to Japan’s denunciation is authoritatively expressed thus:—France was never enthusiastic, over the Washington Treaty, but would never have denounced it herself. Now somebody else has denounced it, so much the better.