DISARMAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 October 1921, Page 5

DISARMAMENT.

MEETING OF NATIONS. JAPAN'S POLICY STATED. BEADY TO COMPROMISE. By Telegraph.—Press Assn —Copyright. Received Sept. 30. 7.35 pjn. Tokio, Sept. 29. A Japanese official, interviewed, stated that as part of its fundamental policy at ihe Washington Conference Japan would i not permit the scrapping of the twenty-five j demands agreement with China, nor tolerx ate interference in the Shantung question. Japan was considering these as accomplished facts concerning Japan and China directly. However, in a general discussion >n Far Eastern matters Japan was willing to explain frankly her position. It is understood the Government is preparing special instructions to the Japansse delegates to the Washington Confersnce concerning the limitation of armaments. It is indicated that the building of eight battleships and eight battle cruisers originated in an idea that this programme was necessary for national defence. but Japan recognises that the project has lost its original significance, and *he is therefore prepared to make such curtailment as will make her strong enough to maintain peace in the Far East, the curtailment being by agreement with the Powers in a spirit of mutual concession and canpromise.

The appointment of Prince Tokugawa as head of the Japanese Washington delegation meets with national favor, and gives the Opposition Party no ground for an attack upon the Government. The Opposition Press, however, attacks M. Hara (the Premier), saying he is too cowardly to go to Washington himself and accept responsibility for the decisions.— Cable Ams.

/proposal by the league.

INTERNATIONAL TREATY, Received Sept. 30, 5J p.m. . Geneva, Sept. 29. The League of Nations comihission, ni disarmament, adopted Lord Robert Cecil's report on disarmament, which the Assembly will be asked to consider it the end of the week. It is expected io constitute the League's programme in this matter, and when approved by next year’s Assembly it will be presented in the form of an international treaty, which all nations will be asked to sign. Lord Robert Cecil’s report .proposed the summoning of an international conference in 1922 for the control of private manufacture and traffic in arms. It also proposes the renewal of the request that all nations should agree not to increase their naval and military Budgets for the next two years over the Budgets of the current year.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Amo.

CHINA’S DELEGATION. DEPARTURE FOR WASHINGTON. Received Sept. 30, 7.35 p.m. Pekin, Sept. 29. China’s delegation to the Washington Conference has left for Shanghai, en route to Washington. The Foreign Minister (Dr. Yen) did not accompany the delegation, as was expected, stating that he would follow if China’s Shantung policy was determined soon enough for him to reach the conference before its opening. DEMOCRATS SUPPORT CONFERENCE. Received Sept. 30, 7.35 p.m. Washington, Sept. 29. The Democratic minority in the Senate unanimously supported President Harding’s disarmament conference, and carried a resolution hoping that the fullest success would attend the conference.