Regarding the intimation that the British Government is prepared hereafter to discuss with the Japanese Covernment some limitation of tonnages and calibres, the replies state that "the Japanese Government considers that such a discussion would not conduce, in any way, to a realization of the Japanese Government's desires concerning disarmament."
The Japanese Government, however, they add, is ready at any time to enter into discussions which give primary importance to fair quantitative limits.
Japanese naval circles voice the opinion that a "more tactful" handling of the question on the part of Great Britain, the United States and France might have averted the "unpleasant situation" which is certain to arise from Japan's refusal to supply the required information.
Naval circles here trace the rumours of Japan's alleged building of 43,000-ton capital ships to the interview given by Marshal Italo Balbo, Governor of Libya, to a Japanese journalist and naval critic, Mr. Masanori Itoh, at Rome on November 30 of last year. At the interview they are reported to have exchanged views on the technical possibility of building 45,000-ton capital ships, "in view of the plan worked out for the construction of 43,000-tone battleships by the Powers before the Washington Naval Conference."
Japan's alleged Naval programme. as reported by the "Giornale d'Italia," mouthpiece of Signor Mussolini, on December 8, was apparently based on statements made at this interview Naval Bill Provision Method of Approach Deplored Mr, Carl Vinson, Democratic Representative of Georgia, announced he would append the terms of his naval expansion bill to permit the United States to reaffirm its fundamental policy of maintaining a strong fleet for defence and not for aggression.
Mr. Vinson said the new provisions of his bill would open the way for American participation in any subsequent international agreements On naval army limitations. In the event of a new limitation treaty, he said, the bill would empower the Presideat to suspend portions of the expansion programme necessary 10 bring the United States within the agreed limitations, Defending his bill before the House of Representatives Naval Affairs Committee to-day, Mr. Vinson said: "Adequate naval defence means not only protection of our continental coast line, the Panama Canal Zone, Alaska, Hawaii and our insular possessions, but also a defence which keep any potential enemy away from our shari
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