NAVAL LIMITATION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22320, 18 January 1936, Page 13

NAVAL LIMITATION

LONDON CONFERENCE CONTINUATION OF WORK PREVENTING AN ARMS RACE By Telegraph—Preß3 Association—Copyright British Wireless RUGBY. Jan. IB When the First Committee of the Naval Conference met to-day the chairman, Viscount Monsell, submitted a letter he had received from the Japanese delegation stating that it could no longer usefully participate in the work of the conference. The committee agreed upon the terras of the reply to the Japanese delegation and then resumed discussion of quantitative limitation. It adopted unanimously the following propositions:— That the exchange of information is an essential feature of an agreement for a limitation of naval armaments and that advance notification of programmes is most desirable. The letter -which Viscount Monsell has addressed to the Japanese delegation refers to the notification of the decision of the Japanese to discontinue their participation in the deliberations, and says that this decision all delegations felt was a matter for real regret. In spite of the difficulties created by this decision they had decided, however, that the work of the conference should proceed. The letter concludes with an inquiry as to whether the Japanese Government wishes to send observers to keep in touch with the work of the conference. Japan's Difficulties Recognised In conference circles satisfaction is expressed at the progress which the First Committee has been able to make, notwithstanding the unfortunate check with which the work has met in the withdrawal of the Japanese. The fact that the committee gave unanimous approval to two important propositions regarding the exchange of information is thought to bo a good augury for its future work.

There is a very general disposition to give full recognition to the difficulties of the Japanese Government, and no one appears to question the sincerity of the Japanese assurance that they have no intention of embarking on a race in naval armaments. At the same time on all sides it is emphasised that tho dangers of stich a race must be very great in the absence of new agreements to take the place of existing treaties, and for that reason the rigidity of the Japanese attitude comes in for friendlj' criticism. Well-informed commentators, however, point out that it would be premature to assume that whatever tho conference finally achieves in the way of agreement it may not secure tho sympathetic interest of Japan at a later dato. Hopes of an Agreement There is a hopeful feeling among those in closest touch with the delegations that, principles having received unanimous approval to-day, when the committee resumes consideration tomorrow of three plans already submitted for an exchange of information it will be possible to agree on general instructions for the technical sub-com-mittee, which would go into details with a view to drafting the text of an agreement. When this question has passed to tho sub-committee the First Committee will open discussions of questions of qualitative disarmament. The newspapers lay stress on the great importance of providing against competition in types as one of the most dangerous forms a naval race might assume, but confidence is expressed in several quarters that agreoment on the main aspects of tho question will be reached. It is generally assumed that if and when the Four-Power Conference has approved the provisional texts of agreements on tlio exchange of information on naval programmes and on qualitative naval disarmament, other naval Powers not represented at the conference will be brought into consultation for full and free discussion of the results achieved. Naturally any eventual agreement would have to include a safeguarding clause to enable signatory States to denounce it if necessitated by the action of any one participating Power. JAPANS SEA POLICY FOREIGN PRESS COMMENT EMPIRE'S FUTURE MENACED LONDON, Jan. 16 The Rome newspaper La Stampa says the Empire of the Rising Sun has won all the points in the game in. the past few years. Its adversaries —Britain and America —have one weapon at their disposal now that the Washington system is ended, namely tho fortification of Hongkong and tho Philippines. But will they resort to that? Other newspapers deplore Britain's "short-sighted" action in tying up the Homo Fleet in the Mediterranean and absorbing her energies on the "miserable Abyssinian conflict" while Japan is building up an impregnable position in the Far which menaces the future of the British Empire and the Pacific. A message from Paris says Le Temps asks: Can the conference usefully carry on without Japan? Le Journal des Debats says: The real cause of the rupture is the question whether Japan shall be mistress of Asia. The'Continontal press attaches greater weight to the Japanese decision than does that in London. The Berliner Tageblatt says Japan's withdrawal is tho storm signal to the world. The Deutsche Allgeineine Zeitung says the world's important problems lie in the Pacific, and their solution is becoming urgent. Angriff says Japan's step is a fresh indication of her intention to pursue her own policy, which on the other hand may lead to closer co-operation in the Pacific between Britain and America. A message from Tokio says tho Japanese Foreign Minister, Mr. Hirota, stated to-dav that, although Japan had been compelled to withdraw from the Naval Conference, she would continue to adhere to the spirit of disarmament and non-aggression. "Japan does not desire to start a building race, but will continue to co-1 operate with the other naval Powers," added the Minister. I