Tokyo, Feb. 10.
While the belief exists in some quarters that the American proposals regarding naval reduction received the tacit approval of Great Britain prior to their presentation to Japan, the Japanese Foreign Office emphasizes that it is convineed that there was absolutely no con-ni vance between the two countries. It intimates that it has reason to declare that both Senator Reed' proposals and Colonel Stimso1 statement took the British as much by surprise as the Japanese.
hey are likewise satisfied that the proposals (which included a plan for a reduction in battleships s0 that equality between Britain and America should be receded in,1981 instead of 1942 and a relation with Japan which would not be based the same ratio for every class of ship) are not intended as a hard and fast offer but merely as starting. point for bargaining.
Owing to the unfortunate impression made in some quarters by the publicity given to Colonel Stimson's statement, it is learned that Japan is not likely to follow the British example of issuing a state ment, though a reply will be sent to the proposals which Senator Reed presented to Mr. Wakatsuki, the leader of the Japanese delegation, on February 5.
As the reply requires careful con-loration both in Tokyo and Lon-jon, several days are likely to elapse before it is submitted to the American Delegation and it is unlikely to be made public-—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.