NAVAL BUILDING

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue CXXIII, 10 April 1937, Page 9

NAVAL BUILDING

THE JAPANESE ATTITUDE

GUN LIMITS DECLINED

LONDON, April 1,

■ Irifthe refusal of the Japanese Government to restrict the calibres of big naval guns to 14 inches, which, was formerly communicated to,the British Ambassador, says the Tokio correspondent of'"The Times,"1 it: is stated that Japan'finds no reason at present td alter her policy of rejecting qualitative limitation unless it is accompanied by quantitative limitation. . The vernacular. Press not only attempts to. justify the decision .'by, the arguments used at the London Naval Conference, but- describes ( the British proposal as a crafty manoeuvre dfrsigned either to trap Japan into a position of permanent inferiority or lay on her the responsibility-for new competition'in naval armaments. It is-suggested, ; says the. correspondent, that the United-States supported the British proposal because if ships of 40,000 or 50,000 tons are built the Panama Canal would'have to be reconstructed. The United States, it is pointed out, is moved, by- a desire to have a fleet capable of moving between the Atlantic and the-Pacific, and Britain, with her scattered Empire, wants a large number of small ships.' ■■■ :■■ ■ ■ -■• ■' -' ■•- '" ' ' ■ AN INFERIOR POSITION. ' It is also argued that the British proposal^ would allow Britain to retain her existing fleet while mounting 15-inch guns and the United States. to keep three ships which are armed, with 16----inch guns against two possessed by Japan. "It is self-evident," says the "Yomiuri Shimbun,"."that unless these conditions are liquidated Japan must be content with an inferior fleet." \ Resentment is shown at the British pressure for a reply. It is complained that the British Government was well aware of the Japanese attitude, and the demand for a definite answer must be regarded as a device to shift on to Japan the blame for the new naval competition and to utilise the Japanese refusal as an excuse for.Britain's enormous programme.

Against those blunt defences of the Japanese policy, says the correspondent of "The Times," two qualifying statements be recorded. The Domei news agency repeats that naval circles are still willing to take part in a naval conference. if it takes up quantitative as well as qualitative reduction. ■. ,

The "Asahi Shimbun" states that, though Japan cannot adhere to the new London agreement, she will not take any hostile measures, such as mounting larger gun^ on new ships.