“WAR IMPRACTICABLE”

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 12015, 18 December 1924, Page 6

“WAR IMPRACTICABLE”

JAPAN AND UNITED STATES APPREHENSION FELT ONLY BX IGNORANT LAYMEN. GENERAL’S ASSERTION. By Telegraph.—Pr*ea Assn.—Copyright. Australian anci N.Z. Cable Association. (Received December 17, 11.25 p.m.) NEW YORK, December 10. Tin Crated Press correspondent in Tokio states that General, Itami, cbiet of the intelligence bureau of the Japanese General Staff, interviewed, declared the United States justified in holding na<ral manoeuvres in the Pacific, and Tapan had no reason to object. “We have never considered the manoeuvres unfriendly,” said General Itami “Every country is doing the same thing. The necessity of defence justifies all such measures. . He stated that Japanese criticism of the proposed manoeuvres was the outgrotrth of popular discussion by people who dad not knew the facte. The Paci.io Ocean was a sufficient barrier to make impracticable a war upon Japan by any Power on the opposite shore. Such a war would be fought only on paper, in speeches, in imagination, and by way of the most idle speculation. It was true’ there was some apprehension, but it was held by laymen, unfamiliar with the situation. Despite the war talk Jaipan and America were growing oloser together. General Itami referred to the adoption by Japan of military training schools, following the American plan, as only one of the many ideas obtained from' the United States. He favoured criticism between nations, but it must be friendly, to prevent bickerings.