ARMAMENT CONFERENCE

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLI, Issue XLI, 15 September 1921, Page 5

ARMAMENT CONFERENCE

JAPANS BASIS

PUBLICITY FACILITIES

8Y CABLE—PRESS ABSOGIATION-COPYBIOHI' TOKIO, Sep. 13. The Asahi Shimbun says the Foreign Office naval and military experts have decided the ground principles of naval limitation to which Japau can agree— namely, that Japan will neither suspend previously arranged building programmes, nor reduce the strength of the navy independently. Japau believes it is against the fundamental spirit of the armament conference that any Power should possess superior forces sufficient to obtain victo.y over any Bower or Powers. The Powers, therefore, should reduce armaments to tho same degree as the country having the smallest naval strength among the Powers concerned. The latter should not establish any naval base in the Pacific. The Asahi Shimbun adds that it has also been decided that the present building prpgramme should be extended over a longer number of years ! than was originally contemplated. The League of Nations Association of Japan has issued a statement endorsing the armament conference, and asking the League of Nations Associations in 'various countries to endorse the movement, expressing the desire for a complete understanding among the Powers on Far Eastern questions. A strong international organisation is needed to back up the reduction in armaments, and the conference may result in the League being recognised by all nations. WASHINGTON, Sep. 13. A council of fourteen Washington correspondents has been formed to ad- ' "Hse and assist the Government otti- > cials in arranging publicity facilities regarding the Armament Conference. Theywill consult shortly with Mr C. E. Hughes (Secretary of State} and President Harding, concerning ike.allotment of Press space, housing, en- * tertainment and credentials of visiting i correspondents. f

'.■-"" NEW YORK, Sep. 13. According to messages from Alabama Mr Underwood has announced his acceptance of appointment as a delegate to the armament conference* He personally favours publicity at the conference, but must abide by the dolegates' decision. He believes that the biggest task will be convincing foreign countries of the effectiveness of and necessity for an agreement to disarm, and\he is hopeful of such an agreement, .which he believed will have an immediate favourable reaction on the economic world.