OCR Text |
Show JAPAN WILL FINISH NAVAL PROGRAM VICE ADMIRAL KATO BELIEVES ' PLANS WILL BE i COMPLETED REGARDLESS OF U. S. ACTION. 1 Says Program Was Inaugurated a Decade Ago, and Even if Completed Com-pleted Would Not Bring Japan's 1 Naval Strength Up 'to Others. . Tokio. Regardless of the United States' naval program, the Japanese program requires completion of the eight battleship and eight cruiser unit, sold Vice Admiral Kato, minister of the navy, In responding on January 30 to an interpellation by Lieutenant General Gen-eral Usbara, chief of staff, as to Japan's Ja-pan's view of Senator Borah's resolution-concerning a cessation of warship war-ship construction. Japan's naval construction con-struction plan, however, he said, need not be carried out with the United States as an imaginary enemy. He said Japan would adhere to a world curtailment of construction plans. - He declared Japan's naval program was Inaugurated a decade ago and was born of Imperative necessity. Even if completed, he said, a wide margin would remain between the naval strength of Japan and other powers. War Minister Tanaka said Japan's forces had been organized to insure the safety of her territorial rights. It was true, he declared, neither Russia nor China could now menace Japan, Any effective plan of defense, however, how-ever, he added, must presuppose the necessity of operations beyond Japan's frontiers. |