SMALLER NAVIES.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 November 1921, Page 5

SMALLER NAVIES.

OFINIONS FROM JAPAN. COUNTER PROPOSALS. AN AMENDED RATIO. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright Received Nov. 17, 5.5 p.m. Tokio, Nov. 16. An apparently inspired Press statement says Japanese counter-proposals to those of Mr. C. E. Hughes will ask for an amended ratio, permitting a Japanese fleet of seventy to eighty per cent, of the British and American fleets, and increasing capital ships to include the Togo and the Kasa, which are ready for launching; also retaining the Mutsu. Japan desires auxiliaries in greater ratio than capital ships, to secure the defence of her trade routes’ and her extended coast line. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. Tokio, Nov. 16. Comment among noted men and Government officials on the American limitation programme varies interestingly. Barov Sakamoto, an influential Inember of the House of Peers, says that the j plan does not provide an equitable naval ; balance in the Pacific. Mr. Unukai, president of the National Party, says that, fair or not, Japan will be compelled to see the plan carried out as proposed. Admiral Hitaka, naval commandant of the General Staff, aays the ultimate object would be frustrated if there were any defect in the method of execution, no matter how plausible. Admiral Takarabe was impressed with the difficulties of the problem. He said the Powers must congratulate themselves if an agreement is reached. Mr. Shima. director of the Nippon Yusen Kaisha Line, said that the art of shipbuilding will be dissipated during the ten-year holiday. Mr. Tanaka. Professor of History at Keio University, said the limitation of armaments will not be as complete a guarantee of peace as is generally supposed. because it will be followed by more intensified industrial competition, no less fatal than armament construction if carried t-oo far. He suggested a Pacific tariff alliance.