REDUCTION OF ARMAMENTS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16584, 17 November 1921, Page 7

REDUCTION OF ARMAMENTS.

1 MR H. C, WELLS'S VIEWS. j SPIRIT OF WAR MUST DIE. | __ __ | By Telegraph .-Pre-7.3 A “**.;oiation—Copyright. » Australian arid N.Z. Cable Association. (Received November 17, 10.20 a.m.) NEW YORK, November 16. Mr H. G. Wells, writing to the "New York World 7’ says:—• “ Is J a pan peculiarly an obstacle to the practical and informal world federation to ivhicii we hope all tilings are moving? it occurs to me with added s tore© that the Japanese are not a people trying to express themselves ‘ through, tiie Government, but the Gov- | eminent is a small, ruling class, effect- ! possessing the obedience of a lov- | *ug people, and that small ruling class j has a long tradition of romantic and j chivalrous swordsmanship. | “ Nobody could ho more urgent in I their appeal than I for complete disarmament of the entire world, but no | one could bo more convinced of the unj wisdom of disarmament by America or ; any other Power while any sjngle country maintains a spirit that must lead finally to the resumption of war. Disarmament in such a situation is to leave trouble to accumulate upon our grandchildren, and to patch up a peace based on the permitted extension of such Power is simply to prepare for expanded warfare in the future.” FEELING IN JAPAN. DIFFERENCE OF OPINION. By Telegraph—Press Asiiooiation-Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received November 17, 9.30 a.m.) TOKIO, November 10. Comment among noted men and Government officials on the American limitation programme varies interestingly. Baron Sakamoto, an influential member of the House of says that tho plan does not provide equitable naval balance in the Pacific. President Unukui, of tho National Party, says that fair or not Japaji is compelled to see the plan carried out as proposed. Admiral Hitako, naval commandant of the General Staff, says that the ultimate object, no matter how plausible it might be*. would bo frustrated if there was any defect in tho method of execution. Admiral Takarab© was impressed with the difficulties of the problem. He said that the Powers must congratulate themselves if an agreement was reached. M. Shima. director of the NipponYusen Kaisha Shipping Line, said:— “ The art of shipbuilding will be dissipated during the ten years’ naval holiday.” M. Tanaka, Professor of History at the Keio University, said that the limitation of armaments would not be a concrete guarantee of peace, as was generally supposed, because it would be followed by more intensified industrial competition, which was no less fatal than armament construction if carried 1 too far. He suggested a. Pacific tariff