JAPANESE ATTITUDE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16376, 25 June 1927, Page 5

JAPANESE ATTITUDE

BRITISH POLICY CRITICISED

(The Times.) TOKIO, June 24

A high naval officer frankly gave the Japanese naval view of tho Geneva proposals. He described the British plan as a noble one, but did not conceal the Japanese dislike for many provisions. The chief objection is the age limit. Japan considers cruisers 24 years old of little fighting value. Japan does not object to a reduction in the size of capital ships, but sees no reason for reducing their gun calibre. She could not accept the o-5-;i ratio in 10,000-ton cruisers, and the limitation of other cruiser armaments to six-inch guns. Japan does not question Britain's right to build the Singapore base, and certainly does not expect war with Britain.. Nevertheless, Singapore brings the third battle fleet into the Western Pacific, and greatly increases the British fleet's mobility, which factors cannot be excluded in calculating naval strength. Japan will not make Singapore an issue,