JAPAN ACTIVE

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 17 April 1925, Page 5

JAPAN ACTIVE

WARSHIP BUILDING.

A WARNING ISSUED.

UNDERLYING MOTIVES

BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT,

LONDON, April 15. Sir Herbert Russell, writing iu the Daily Express, says that to appreciate the profound significance or the admirals’ conference at Singapore it is necessary to examine Japan’s naval programme for the current year, which sanctions the construction of eight first-class and three second-class cruisers (all of 36 knots), ten powerful seakeeping destroyers and an aircraft carrier. Since the Washington agreement Japan has shown extraordinary activity in the construction of all classes of warships outside the ridiculously limited prohibition. “We still l'egard Japan as a good friend, and take it for granted that her naval activity is not directed against our interests,” writes Sir Herbert. “The truth is that a change is coming over the spirit of Japan. She is still a good friend, but since the passing of the Anglo-J apanese alliance there has been a perceptible cooling off in sentiment for Britain, while the fu'J significance of 'the recent Russo-Japan-ese Treaty is not understood in Britain.

“Japan has the clearest perception of her needs-. She is building warships because she realises that she must have an outlet for her growing population. My impression from a recent visit is that Japan does not want war, hut will not shirk it if needs be. “The United States is the strongest opponent of Japan’s peaceful penetration in China. She realises the importance of the Chinese market, and when the United States gets down to markets her no'iitics become very real. The forthcoming visit of the United Stages’ Pacific Fleet to Australia is nominally a flag-showing tour of simple friendliness, but really the tour will be an unmistakeable political demonstration. “If Japan obtains the necessary outlet diplomatically all will be well, but her naval programmes do not suggest unqualified faith in diplomacy. They are simply an unostentatious preparation lor war in the Pacific. A war with one or more European Powers as combatants could not be a battleship war. Therefore the Washington agreement does not affect Japan’s strategic advantages. Her programmes disclose a policy of war on commerce. Singapore is designed for protection in that aspect, but Singapore will not be ready for ten years.

“In the meantime, while Japan is rapidlv building cruisers to mop up trade in the Pacific,,we are merely considering whether to build any battleships at all.”