Criticism of Government's by Kenseikai Leader; Menaces to Peace in the Pacific Tokio, Jan. 23.
Speaking in the House of presentatives to-day, Mr. Kotaro Mochizuki, one of the leaders of the* Kenseikai Party, who recently returned here from the W ashington Conference, referring to Japan's diplomatic question, said it was to be greatly regretted that the Japanese Government faced the Washington Conference without any definite policy, The amnexation by the United States of the Philippines and Hawaii and the cutting of the Panama Canal constituted a menace to the Pacific, and unless Japan took steps to complete her bases, it would be impossible for her to escape the United States' mailed fist.
Japan, he said, made a blunder when she agreed to the naval ratio proposed by Mr. Hughes. That the Japanese delegates argued as to whether or not Japan proper was included in the scope of defence indicated, in other words, that they considered Japan proper on the same level with Hawaii and the Philippines, a fact which had infringed upon the national rights of Japan.
More than this, with regard to the Far Eastern affairs closely connected with Japan, the Government showed no definite policy. For instance, Japan made concession after concession on the Shantung issue and there was no knowing to what extent Japan would yield in the controversy.
In reply, Count Uchida, Minister of Foreign Affairs, stated:—'I regret that I am not yet in a position to make a reply in detail with regard to the Washington Conference, which is now in fair progress, but it cannot be said to be a failure. Japan has succeeded in dispelling the suspicion on_ the} part of other Powers that she is a militaristic country. As for the Shantung question, negotiations are now in progress between the delegates of the two countries and Japan is doing her best to solve the controversy amicably."—Eastern News Agency.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.