Tokyo, Jan, 27.
While the Japanese delegation to the London Naval Conference is reported to have requested—that capital shi discussed, i Government considers the. order of, dence a matter of compa ly minor importance and therefore, unlikely to press the point.
On the other hand, there are growing indications that both offi.
I and unofficial cixeles regard:
inch cruisers as the supreme issue, Naval circles in. particular hint very broadly that they consider the British Premier, Mr, Ramsay Mac-Donald, in his ardent desire prevent futile armament competition do tween Britain and America, acted over-hastily in tentatively agreeing: to fewer 8-inch cruisers than Amer-y, fea and overlooked the effect on Japan, There appears to be a genuine fear that this will lead to frietiox between Britain and Japan, as the latter considers a 70 per cent. ratio visi-vis of America in 8-inch cruisers essential for her defensive but this means 86 per cent, viv is England if Amer~ fen has 18 10,000-ton cruisers and 100 per cent. vit-d-vie of England if America has 21 10,000-ton ships in this category. For this reason, is stated, Britain is bound to oppose the Japanese claim, thereby causing friction between the two countries.—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.