JAPAN TO ACT

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 82, 31 December 1934, Page 7

JAPAN TO ACT

Denunciation of Naval Treaty To-day NOTICE TO AMERICA Hope That New Treaty Will Be Agreed Upon ATTITUDE OF AMERICA By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. (Received December 31, 6.30 p.m.) Washington, December D 9. Japan lias oiiicially informed the United States through her ambassador, Mr. Hiroti baito, that the Washington Naval Treaty wilt be denounced on peceinber 31. He ex- / pressed the hope that a new treaty would be agreed upon within the next two years. Japan, Mr. Saito said, was willing to discard half her navy if a ‘'common inaxium limit for the United States. Britain, and ihe Far Eastern empire was established. He declared he was "not at all anxious” about the possibility of a naval race. "The peoples concerned are all intelligent, and their Governments rational,” he said. "None wishes to engage in damaging naval competition.” . At noon to-day Mr. Saito, smiling and apparently unconcerned, delivered to Mr. Cordell Hull, Secretary of State, Japan’s formal notification of denunciation of the naval treaty. Such an event was, of course, anticipated and for several weeks has been discounted, but the formal action produced a flood of reaction from various sources. Mr. Hull formally accepted it on behalf of the American Government, and announced that he would transmit the -decision to the other‘signatory Powers. He issued a statement saying that he accepted it with “genuine regret.” ,He. declared that America stands for equality of security rather than equality of armaments. JAPANESE STATEMENT Basic Principles For • Agreement WILLING TO NEGOTIATE (Received December 30,. 6.30 p.m. ,i Tokio, December 30. The Foreign Gfiice, hi a statement, after referring to Japan's eflorts for co-operation .with other powers to secure a-naval agreement, says: The Government is convinced that the cause of disarmament will bb test served and the security of powers permanently assured by an t- ustabie ag e’lneut foun-lid on th? f How . g principles w.ikh it stilini t‘. d to lhe other flowers. (1) In view of the extraordinary development of warships, aircraft and other weapons, existing naval treaties recognising inequality of armaments no longer secure Japanese national defence, for which reason a new treaty should not be based on ratio but on an agreed upper limit. (2) The disarmament limit should be the lowest possible and to render it difficult for any Power to attack anther but easy to defend itself. Offen■ive arms should be totally abolished or drastically reduced, while defensive arms should be adequate. In view of these basic principles the Government finds it 'mpossible to tie'quiesce in a continuation of the Washington Treaty permitting the retention of offensive arms and admitting naval disparity through ratio The inferior ratio, which is so detrimental to our national prestige, would be the source of permanent ond profound discontent to our people, consequently the Government has long felt it incumbent 'ou it to notify a termination of the treaty at the end of 1936, namely at the expiration of its stipulated life, of which the British and American Governments were early given a fairlyiclcar intimation. The statement adds:. "We are prepared, despite the termination of the treaty, to pursue with imdiniiuished zeal friendly negotiations We firmly believe that when th<- Powers appreciate the essential fairness of our claims and consent to a sweeping reduction of armaments based on the Japanese proposals, then full security will be afforded the Powers by the elimination of any possible menace and enduring peace will be established.” ON A LARGE SCALE American Fleet Manoeuvres (Received December 30, 6.30 p.m.) San I’edro, December 29. i Admiral Reeves, commander of the United States fleet, announced plans for manoeuvres on an unparalleled scope throughout the east Pacific early in the summer, with the ships venturing almost to Oriental waters. The fleet will consist of 177 surface ships, 477 aeroplanes and the dirigible Macon, with a total of 55,000 officers and men engaged.