NAVAL CONTROVERSY

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 121, 15 February 1921, Page 5

NAVAL CONTROVERSY

UNITED STATES SHIPBUILDING PROGRAMME JAPAN’S DEFENSIVE SCHEME (By Telegraph'-Preo Aesoclatlon-OopyrlsM Washington, February 12.

In the Senate on the Navy debate, Senator Poindexter, supporting the capital shipbuilding programme, said that if the United States accepted a postponement of the plan it would lie a defeated nation, and would lose its insular possessions. America should not. sit at the Conference table unarmed. —Reuter. Tokio, February' 12.

Viscount Kato, Leader of the Opposition, declared that no responsible statesman dared propose the restriction of the defensive scheme which complied with the minimum naval requirements of the Empire. The Opposition party considered the eight-battleship, and eight-cruiser programme vital to the country’s defence. Japan was not in the position to take the initiative on the question of disarmament. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. Tokio, February 13.

Mr. Ozaki, a former Minister, speaking in* the Diet, advocated an English, Japanese, and American naval agreement and the reduction of tho army in accordance with the decision of tho League of Nations Disarmament Commission. Tho motion was defeated by. 225 votes to 38, Ministerialists combining with the Opposition to defeat it. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.