Tokyo, Nov. 27. 1925:
Naval circles here are inclined to regard as premature the sudden growth of agitation for the abolition of submarines. Admiral Taka-Tube has authorized the publica tion of the statement that the} question constitutes @ grave matter of defence, on which opin-fons may not be ventured off hand. Generally speaking, Japan's posi tion on the question has not changed since the time of the Wathing-/ ton Conference. Japan looks upon submarines as an effective weapon in naval warfare. Humanity forbids, of course, their use against merchantmen; but they are not to be considered in the same category with poison gas.
The proposition, say the naval authorities, may be given serious consideration if all other countries: agree permanently to abolish submarines. Unlike battleships - "the under sea craft can be built quickly, 80 that their abolition by a few will go for nothing, if other are to build them in emergencies. Besides, the international situation today suggests the belief that abolition is premature.
Thus far the Naval Minister.
Naval circles in general see in the British suggestion the effect of shock following the M—1 disaster. Japan too has had sad experiences with under sea boats and how to minimize submarine mishaps is receiving much attention. But the. Imperial Navy does not consider submarines objectionable in themselves, though they are well aware that they make the most inhuman weapon of destruction when wrong-folly used.
They contend that if submarines re to be ruled out, then torpedoes should also be struck out of the list of approved implements of war. Moreover, the submarine is the only weapon of defence for countries of inferior naval strength. Abolltion will, they say, only have the effect of aggrandising the sea power: of one or two countries possessing great fleets of surface ships. The object for which the abolition of submarines is now being sought will be better attained, they argue, by abolishing capital' ships altogether. Naval giants will be safer when submarines are to be no more;' but to make an end of submarines will be like wrenching off the arms of weak mortals, On the subject of holding " second disarmament conference in Tokyo, official circles are absolutely silent; but there is reason to believe that they do not welcome the id jays willing to participate in The Imperial Government is bond fide international endeavours to lessen occasions for war and to discuss means for promoting the peace of the world, but Japan, as nation, is not presumptuous, enough to think that she can success. fully take the lead in such matters. The question is not merely the choosing of Tokyo as the place of meeting, but Japan must be, Prepared to propose her own scheme of making peace maintainable without arms, and she has unfortunately mo such scheme in hand. This summarizes official views.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.