NAVAL PROGRAMMES

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20421, 11 February 1938, Page 7

NAVAL PROGRAMMES

JAPAN’B ATTITUDE POWERS' REQUEST DECLINED United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright LONDON, Feb. 10. A message from Tokio says it is semi-officially announced that after the meeting between the Minister of the Navy and the Prime Minister, Japan will definitely reject the British, French and American "unreasonable inquiry” regarding naval construction. A reply to the three Notes will be delivered on Friday simultaneously, and the issue of a statement will clarify Japan's attitude. Mr Noda said: "Although the Government is still considering the procedure of answering the three Powers’ inquiry into our naval plans, Japan has not changed her position whatever 6ince she left the London Conference. Japan sticks to the formula of a common upper limit, both quantitatively and qualitatively, and is likely to join a future conference if that is tiie basis.” He said the three Powers signed the qualitative pact as if accomplishing something, yet scarcely a year after ratification they had already started quantitative expansion, while the position qaulitativelv was uncertain, proving that Japan’s proposal was fairer. He added: — “If we give the desired information it would bind us qualitatively, which is unfair, while, if we do not give it, it appears that others would make a pretext for expansion on the imaginary ground tiie Japan was expanding. “Countries with smaller resources need greater secrecy, due more to the necessity to build special classes of warships suitable to defend security.” lie reiterated the policy of nonmenace and non-aggression, and said:—“Japan has no idea of starting a but if thp expansion of others menaces our security we shall nut sit idle.”