JAPAN AND AMERICA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18895, 18 December 1924, Page 11

JAPAN AND AMERICA.

MAX OETTVRES IN PACIFIC. FRIENDLY TOKTD GENERAL. SCHEME QUITE JUSTIFIABLE. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received 11.5 p.m.) A. and N.Z. NEW YORK. Dec. 16. The Tokio representative of the United Press Association states that General Itami, Chief of the Intelligence Bureau of tiie Japanese General Staff, in an interview, said United States was justified in holding naval manoouvres in the Pacific. Japan had no reason to object. General Itami said he never regarded the manoeuvres as unfriendly. Every country was doing the same thing. The necessities of defence justified all such measures. The general said that Japanese criticism of the proposed manoeuvres was the outcome of public discussions by poople who did not know the facts. The Pacific Ocean was a sufficient barrier to make impracticable a war against Japan by any Power - on the opposite shore. Sucli a war will bo fought only on paper, in speeches, in imagination, and by the way of the most idle speculation, remarked the general. "It is true there is some apprehension, but it is felt by laymen who are not familiar with the situation.

" In spite of the talk of war, Japan and America are growing closer together," added General Itami. He referred to the adoption by Japan of military training schools after tho American examplo, as only one of many ideas obtained from the United States. Ho said ho favoured criticism between nations, but they must be friendly to prevent bickerings.