15th December.
In the Japanese House of Representatives on Saturday, 13th December, Mr. She Nemoto, a member of Marquis Ito's party, asked if the naval expansion scheme were an outcome of the Anglo-Japanese agree-tment and whether Japan was bound by tha agreement to expand her fleet The Premier said that Japan was no bound by the agreement with England to increase her fleet.
Mr. Taguchi, an independent member, expressed his surprise at the fact that neither the Premier nor the Minis er of Finance had off-red any explanation of the necessity of the naval expansion programme. The Premier (said Mr. Taguchi) hal just referred to. the increased growth of friendly relations between Jap and the other Powers. Was this increased growth of friendly relations the reason why the fleet should be strengthened Baron Yamamoto, the Minister of the Navy, replied that he had intended to reserve explanation" on these matters till the committee meetings, but thst since Mr. Taguchi Il challenged him to give. explanation, he would give one. the Fen: son, therefore, why the Government lad decided to begin another expansion programme on the eve of the completion of th: Present ten-y-ar programme was because the trend of affairs in the Far East and even the present stare of things there demanded it.
Mr. Taguchi asked for a mor- definite tobe drawn, He bromited, however, to refer vation but Baron Yamamoto refused to the matter on a future occasion.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.