NO RATIOS

Taranaki Daily News, 26 November 1934, Page 5

NO RATIOS

JAPAN AND NAVY DEFINITE DECISION AMBASSADOR’S SPEECH CALLED SPOILED CHILD REPERCUSSIONS FELT By Telegraph—Press Assn. Copyright. Rec. 7 pan. Philadelphia, Nov. 24. Mr. Hirosi Saito, Japanese Ambassador to the United States, in an address before the American Academy of Political and Social Science, said it appeared that .the United States and Japan “are heaven ordained to be mutually beneficial and ever to be -co-guardians of the peace of the Pacific.” The ambassador said Japan regarded the ratio system in the naval question as inappropriate and proposes that a parity system by the establishment of a common upper limit for all navies should be instituted." From this point of view “Japan is going to give notice of her intention to terminate the Washington Treaty of 1932.” ~ ~ j “This will be done,” he said, regard* less of 'developments at the preliminary conference at London. • “It'has often been said that with the present ratio Japan has equality of defence in her home waters. That presupposes’ that the American navy would fight in the western Pacific, but never that the Japanese would fight in the eastern Pacific. Moreover, in the ratio question is involved the question of prestige. “No one has ever thought that by granting Japan equality in naval strength either the United States or the British Empire will begin to feel anxiety about their own national security. That is not the point. The fear appears to be that in that case there would be no knowing what actions Japan may take toward China and other parts in the Far East. “There is a tendency to look down upon Japan as a spoiled child who may run amok at any moment.” DRAWN CLOSER TOGETHER U.S.A. AND GREAT BRITAIN SIGNIFICANT STATEMENT Rec. 7JO pm. New York, Nov. 23. Ambassador Saito’s announcement that japan would denounce the Washington naval treaty, combined with reports from London that American and British spokesmen are drawing closer together irj. resistance to Japan’s demands for parity, created the belief in State .Department circles to-day that Britain is likely to .terminate her efforts to compromise on fundamental technical questions, says the Washington correspondent of the Times. Mr. Cordell Hull, Secretary of State, issued hi? most significant statement since the London conversations started. I read Sir John Simon’s speech in the House of Commons yesterday with particular interest. His statement oti the naval conference is a lucid exposition of the difficulties facing the conference at the London naval talks. “One of the bright spots of the negotiations has been the close friendly relationship existing between the delegations and I should like to pay a tribute to the fair co-operative attitude shown by the British delegation throughout. “I should like also to mention my gratification at the general tenor of Sir John’s speech on ths armaments industry, which is both friendly and courage“When Mr. Ramsay MacDonald states, 'The British Government always attaches the highest value to the close friendship and co-operation between Britain and the United States,’ I can assure him that this Government whole-heartedly reciprocates.”