Tokyo, Sept, 1. he tussle between the Hamaguahmet and Japan's Privy Coun-regard to the London Naval 'Treaty is developing a turn that anay prevent ratification of the pact and thus lead to international' rethe Privy Council took mination of the document, there has been a ding-dong battle waxed between it and the Government; while there have not been wanting indications that the Privy. Council was far from enamoured with the treaty and was inclined to. hold, with the former chief of the Naval General Staff, that the treaty anenaeed the security of Japan in Far Eastern waters. This attitude, however, was at first designed to, embavass and vex the "Hamaguchi Government, and no-one believed that the Council would During recent debates, however, the attitude of the Privy. Councillors towards the pact has. grown perceptibly hostile and, at. this writing, there is grave danger: that the Throne will be advised by the Councillors not to append signature, which would mean non fication, to the document, 'A crucial stage was reached yesterday when the Privy Councillors put before the Premier two alternatives, One was to admit that the Cabinet made a mistake when it isnuied instructions to the Japanese Acloyzates to sign the treaty. with: on securing the assent of the Naval moral Staff and to recognize that the Naval General Staff must have the last word on such matters. The other was that if the Premier was not prepared to reinstate the Army and Navy in their pristine, privilege ed position, the Council would not pass the treaty, Premier Hamaguchi contended that the instructions sent to Mr.
Wakatsuki at London were forwarded after Admiral Kanji Kato, then Chief of the Naval General \l_given his sanction, but Admiral the Premier Unconfirmed reports, emanating. From generally reliable source declare that Premier Hamaguchi intends to counter the blows aimed him by the Privy Counci by pro-
1 audience and petition His the Emperor to effect a change in the personnel of the Privy: Councillors. The Premier's conten tion is said to be that the prevent Privy Council has been always. opposed to him and the Minseito (present Government) party bee ise the Minseito has consistently: sought to check the powers of the Privy Council and make this p ened organ, h nevertheless. is business depression captivated the general public, but that, as no Provement occurred and as things became worse, the public is now becoming convinced that the negative policies of the Hamaguchi Cabinet are responsible for the deeper, trough of depression in which the country finds itself.
Seiyukai chieftains are jubilant over the troubles that, they say, face the Governm@nt, the principal, of these being the balancing of the budget since incomes are dwindling, thereby affecting revenue directly; the growing unemployment which has reached a pitch hitherto unknown in this country; and the general disillusion that has followed in the wake of the Minseito home policies.
With regard to the fi cial fects of the London naval frosty, Mr, Inukai, the leader of the Oppo. sition, says that "enforcement of the pact will not bring any relief to tax-payers in Japan, as the naval leaders are proposing to make Japan's loss in cruisers and submarines by a vast scheme of fo1 feat ions and a big increase hing that the Government is not in a position to turn down. When the public realises that no relief has been afforded them through the treaty, then will they abandon the passive adherence they have thus far been according Mr. Hamaguchi's measures."
While the Privy Council and the Government squabble over constilutional aspects of the instructions in's representatives. ab Conference and on Dunetillios regarding the wording of the treaty, the press is insistent that there is really no cogent argu: ment that could be adduced against the pact.
The papers express dismay that "strong forces are at work" to feat ratification and that it is high! time for friends of the trouty to rally and to defeat "such mi chievous designs.
The "Tokyo Assai," one of the most powerful papers in Japan, in an editorial to-day, examines what competition in naval armament hi cost Japan, "In 1915," it says. "Japan spo 'Yen 74,000,000 on her navy. Six years later, the budget for the na' stood at Yen 480,000,000, more that times the amount for 1915, 4 nificant fact being that Japan continued to spend more and more fon the navy for years following signing of the armistice.
The paper then gives the follow. ing detailed statement of the amount, of money Japan spent on her navy from 1915 to 11921, not responsible to the Cabinet oF to the Diet, more democratic, As the feeling grew that the position of the Cab becoming more and more difficult and that the Privy Council may be the means of Foreing a M ial change, the Tokyo and Osukne stock market dis: played new and unlocked-for strength, The sition party, is also planning a drive on the Ministry and an elaborate anti-Government campaign, which the economic depression and the alleed violation of the ¢onstitution by the Government the Naval General Staff, is slowly taking form. The alleged violation of the constitution ig that the Ministry holds that the Cabinet is superior to the Army and Navy even in departments. that ivectly concern the fighting services, a stand that is @hallenged by egal' luminaries.
The Opposition ix openly averring that it will be hack in power before the end of this yea. The anti ernment peopl fine theory declare that the regard to consolidating the nation' fingneial position and averting the 'The paper then points out that Japan to-day is spending only Y 260,000,000 a year' for ordinary naval needs and at the Was!
Japan spend something likey Yes 600,000,000 a year on her navy tu-day "Opponents of the present pact," the "Asahi" continues, "had better ponder carefully over this and ca! to mind what a staggering burele: We would have had to shoulder if the Washington conference hai proved aborti The paper concludes a trenchant editorial by insisting that the arguments thus far produced against vatifieation of the Losdon treaty do not hold water.
"What ecems to be the trump card of the opponents of the pact," declares, "is the contention that the enforcement of the London Nav.
[Treaty will not bring about a reduetion of popular burdens, Granting for the sake of argument that this is <0, rejection of the treaty would result in infinitely larger increases
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.