PACIFIC PROBLEMS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10962, 26 July 1921, Page 6

PACIFIC PROBLEMS

THE COMING CONFERENCE NO INTERFERENCE WITH. JAPANESE INTERESTS. AN ASSURANCE. By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright Australi.v •*»■<! \ r '■ (Received July 25. 8.20 p.m.) TOiKIO, July 23. It is understood that Japan has received a reassuring reply from tho United States concerning the objects of the Far Eastern Conference, and it is believed Japan will shortly intimate her acceptance of the invitation to participate in tho discussions. It is believed that Japan has also received Word~ffom the Allics assuring her that the conference will in no way be directed against Japanese interests. CHINA'S VIEWPOINT ANXIOUS FOR A FAIR OPPOR- • ;; TUNITY. (Received July 25, 8.20 p.m.) PEKIN, July 23. * The Foreign Minister, Dr Yen, states that China does not propose to enter the Far Eastern Conference with the primary intention of bringing up relations with recognition of general principles applicable to individual nations in future Pacifio problems. China does not want special _ privileges, but only a fair opportunity. A friendly spirit of give-and-take will result-on the discovery of basic Pacific principles, reducing future friction. JAPAN'S NAVAL NEEDS THE IRREDUCIBLE MINIMUM. (Received Julv 26, 10.30 p.m.) WASHINGTON, July 24. ■ Hie Chicago “Tribune’s” Tientsin correspondent' “-hae— received a statement from Viscount Kato, revised and approved Hara (Premier), that the Japanese" Navy considers that the existence of two squadrons as a necessary and an irreducible minimum for naval defence was decided after the Chino-Japanese war. Tbe framers of the eight-and-eight programme did not have in mind any probable enemy. They only knew that the financial ability of Japan permitted such a programme whereby Japan could be defended in any emergenoy arising in the Far East alone. Nothing was more preposterous or more absurd than propaganda that Japan would attempt to compete with the United States Navy. Japan would gladly participate in the Disarmament Conference, ‘‘although,” added Viscount Kato, “our relatively inferior navy cannot lead the way in reduction. I, therefore, would not insist upon a complete eight-and-eight programme under certain circumstances."