Nelson Evening Times TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1932 Japan’S NAVAL PROPOSALS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 13 December 1932, Page 4

Nelson Evening Times TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1932 Japan’S NAVAL PROPOSALS

THE proposals of the Japanese Government, made at Tokio and at Geneva simultaneously, to alter the ratio of the naval strengths of the Great Powers, agreed upon at Washington ten or twelve years ago, are regarded in America as “designed to inject a new element of uncertainty into the international situation until such time as Japan gets a firmer hold in Manchuria.” The Treaty of Washington fixed the ratio of battleship strengths of Great Britain, the United States, and Japan at 55 —3 respectively. The Japanese proposal is that the ratio should be 11—11 —8, which, of course, would increase Japan’s battleship strength materially. It would make the ratio in respect of first-class cruisers 12—12—10, giving Japan eonsid-

erable increase proportionately, and "the question arises why the Japanese Government has raised this question at this time.

When the great Naval Powers signed the Treaty ol Washington there was existing between them complete harmony. The shadow of the Great War was still upon the nations of the world, and everywhere there was a desire for the peace which had been signed at Versailles to last for ever. Then, too, the naval strengths of the -two greatest Naval Powers —Britain and the United States—were so overwhelming, and their proposed sacrifice of ships so great, that Japan readily agreed to the ratio of 5—5—3 in respect of battleships, as proportionately it actually increased her naval importance. But to-day conditions are changed. The British Navy has been reduced to a minimum. The Americans have not even built to the full strength allowed them by the Treaty. Japan now proposes to give herself the right to increase her naval strength proportionately to such a degree as to materially strengthen her position as a Naval Power. By the existing Treaty France and Italy are in the same category as Japan, and it. will he interesting to learn what they have to say to the proposal of the Alikado’s Government.

Apparently the American Government does not take that proposal seriously. The existing arrangement stands till 1936, when the Washington Treaty will be subject to revision, therefore President Hoover appears to think that nothing material can be gained by discussing the subject at the present -time. But possibly the Japanese Government has no intention of so doing. Possibly its intention is merely to let the two greatest Naval Powers know what- its intentions are, when the Washington Treaty shall be brought up for revision or termination. Perhaps the Mikado’s Government wants Britain and America to get accustomed to the idea of Japan’s wish, and possibly of her determination, to increase her naval strength in proportion to theirs. In New York Japan’s proposals may be thought “fantastic and impossible,” but in Tokio they may be considered to be the height of wisdom. It is true that the prevailing economic distress precludes naval expansion in Great Britain and the United States, but it will have been noticed that of recent years there has been a certain degree of rivalry in naval shipbuilding between France and Italy. Neither of these latter Powers, however, has suggested that the provisions of the Washington Treaty should be altered so as to allow the increase of battleship strength and of cruiser strength in the fleets of the lesser Naval Powers. Japan seems to stand alone in her proposal to alter the existing ratios in such a manner as to lead to the expansion of her own Navy and of those of the two Naval Powers which are in the same category as herself. Though necessarily Japan’s proposals are tentative, and will not come up for consideration till 1936, still they show that her Government will ultimately seek to strengthen her naval position in the world. Such a suggestion at once causes Australians and New Zealanders to look towards Singapore, and to ask when the base there will be completed. Until that work is finished the British Navy cannot operate in full strength in Far Eastern waters, and in view of these proposals, which indicate Japan’s determination to increase her naval strength, when the Washington Treaty expires, it is expedient to accelerate the construction of the Singapore base by every means possible. That the New Zealand Government is seized with the importance of -that work, is indicated by the prompt manner in which it has paid its contributions, • and it is to be expected that the Australian and British Governments are as fully convinced of the great importance of the base in relation to the protection of India and of Australia and New Zealand.