NAVAL LIMITATION

Otago Witness, Issue 3590, 2 January 1923, Page 19

NAVAL LIMITATION

THE WASHINGTON TREATY. PARIS, December 20. “Pertinax,” writing in the Echo de Paris, says: “A great sacrifice has been asked of France in the ratification of the Washington Treaty. The past vear’s events can now be viewed impartially, and anyone with unbiassed judgment, of whatever nationality he may be, must recognise that France has been treated with very little consideration in being forced to accept a decision which, without taking into account the colonies in two seas which she has to defend, gives her the same naval power as her southern neighbour.” December 21. The Government intends to propose to Parliament the ratification of the Washington Treaty sometime in January. It was originally M. Poincare’s intention to leave both Houses a free hand, and it was then thought of proposing reservations, but finally it was decided to make the ratifications unconditional. BARON UCHIDA’S HOPES. TOKIO, December 25. Baron Uchida, in addressing the House of Peers, surveyed Japan’s foreign policy, and expressed the hope that in the event of the non-ratification of the Washington Conference treaties by other Powers Japan, in concert with the United States and Great Britain, would solve the problem together. JAPAN AND AMERICA. TOKIO, December 26. Admiral Ide, addressing the Peers, declared that so long as America would not alter her programme for auxiliary ships Japan would pursue her revised scheme, which was announced last summer, maintaining her ship ratio of six to America’s 10 The Admiral, on being questioned as to whether there was a danger that the Japanese navy would be overbalanced by the American navy, replied that Japan’s navy was superior in speed and in the accommodation of the dockyards.