DISCUSSION IN JAPAN.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLI, Issue XLI, 14 February 1921, Page 8

DISCUSSION IN JAPAN.

THE MINIMUM PROGRAMME.

CANNOT TAKE INITIATIVE

BY CABLE—PEESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT

.(Received Feb. 14, 8 a.m.) TOKIO, Feb. 12.

M. Kato, leader of the Opposition, declared that no responsible statesmen dared propose the restriction of a defensive scheme complying;with the minimum naval requirements of ''the Empire. The Opposition party considered ah eight battleships and eight cruisers programme vital to the country's defence. . Japan was not in a position to take the initiative on the question of disarmament.