Japanese ambassador stated that Japan needed 16 large capital ships for strategic purposes according to the Dutch newspaper Algemeen Handelsblad dated 30 December 1920

An item dated London, England 30th referred to an interview with the Japanese ambassador who stated that Japan for strategic purposes needed to have 8 heavy battleships and 8 heavy battle cruisers. To realize this program were some years needed with as final result that the Japanese fleet was even not the half of the strength of the US fleet. Japan saw with enthusiasm every disarmament proposal forward and was amenable to cooperate with other nations in realizing such proposals.