Japanese Insistence on New Basis

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 4, 6 January 1937, Page 12

Japanese Insistence on New Basis

NON-FORTIFICATION OF PACIFIC AREAS. United Press Association—By I£l©ctrlc Telegraph. —Copy right. TOKIO, Jau. 4. The Doinci news agency states that it is announced from authoritative quarters that if uou-fortilication of Pacific areas is discussed at all, the Government insists that it must be approached from an entirely new basis. The announcement recalls that the British Government in December requested Japan to expedite her reply regarding suggested discussions for a continuation of the non-fortification clause after the lapse of the Washington Treaty.

The Tokio correspondent of tho New York Times reported on December 26 that tho newspaper Asahi fcUiimbuu stated that Japan was not prepared to renew Article IU of tho Washington Naval Treaty concerning fortifications in the Pacific, but desired a new agreement, adapted to changed conditions. This would be the substance of Japan’s reply to Britain. {She would point out that the treaty forbids to fortify islands within 500 miles of her shores, but allows the United States to fortify Hawaii, 2400 miles distant. There hud also been technical improvement since 1922, enormously enlarging the striking power of fleets and making the article unreasonable.