JAPAN WILLING TO POSTPONE BUILDING OF NEW WARSHIPS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18946, 17 December 1929, Page 3

JAPAN WILLING TO POSTPONE BUILDING OF NEW WARSHIPS.

DELEGATE SPEAKS NATION'S MIND. (United Press Assn.—By Electric ' Telegraph—Copyright.) NEW YORK, December 15. The Japanese delegation are prepared to declare in favour of the postponement of the replacement of capital ships, in order to lighten the national Budget, said Mr Reijiro Waicatsuki, a former Prime Minister of Japan, who is leading the Japanese delegation to the London Naval Conference. “While there will be no change in the suggested ratio of capital ships,” said Mr Wakatsuki, “we will agree to postpone the building of new ships. Insofar as auxilary ships are concerned, however, Japan not only desires, but will insist on retaining 70 per cent of her tonnage, as compared with the Powers having the greatest naval strength.” The American and Japanese delegations will confer on Tuesday, on the matters to be discussed in London. SENATOR BORAH WILL PROTEST WHEN LAST TRUMPET SOUNDS. NEW YORK, December 15. “When the Archangel Gabriel blows, the last trumpet, Senator Borah is sure to protest that the proceeding is illtimed, irregular, and wholly out of accord with his own understanding cf celestial harmonies,” sa3 r s a leader in the “New York Times,” commenting on Senator Borah’s reply to Mr MacDonald’s White Paper on naval reduction. “For the present.” the paper continues, “he contents himself with rebuking the less affable archangel Ramsav MacDonald. It is barely possible, we admit-, that Mr MacDonald may pay more attention to what President Hoover said publicly, than to what Senator Borah whispered in his ear. If one compares Mr Hoover’s .Armistice Day speech with Mr MacDonald’s declaration, the two will be found to be in substantial agreement. The words of the two men vary” slighth T , but the object aimed at, and the means employed are almost identical.” The “New York Tribune.” in a leader sa3’s: —“As Mr MacDonald’s opinion is addressed merely to members of the League of Nations it is none of our business, but it is also an idea which has been advanced by Americans, although it is hard to imagine an3'thing more pernicious for us.”