JAPAN'S ATTITUDE TO SOVIET RUSSIA.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 17, 20 January 1940, Page 9

JAPAN'S ATTITUDE TO SOVIET RUSSIA.

US. CONCERNED. Ambassador Expressed Alarm In Interview. ARMY ISSUES PAMPHLET. United Press Association.—Copyright. (Reeoive<l 10.30 a.m.) XEW YORK, January ]9. The American Ambassador, Mr. Joseph C. Grew, told Admiral Nomura, former Foreign Minister, in his first, conversation before the recent Cabinet changes, that Washington was "greatly concerned over Japan's increasingly friendly relations -with liussia," says the Associated Press Tokyo correspondent. The "Hochi Shiiubuu" says Russia and America feared and distrusted each other, and thus both were putting pressure on Japan. As a result Japan's relations with both were adversely affected. a The writer believed Moscow was endeavouring to take advantage of Japanese preoccupation with Washington to get the maximum possible concessions on all pending Russo-Japanese questions. • A Foreign Office spokesman, commenting on this article, said lie. saw no technical conflict in• simultaneous discussions with Russia and the United States, but grunted that there were psychological difficulties. Peace Efforts Obstructed. Another Tokyo message says the War Office lias distributed a pamphlet to members of Parliament and to the public. It declares Russia's concentration of -100,000 troops in the Far East challenges Japan, while Britain obstructs Japan's efforts for peace in the Far East and blocks her economic development, and the United States is ambitious to control the Pacific. The pamphlet adds that the westward development of United States aviation is causing increasing concern to Japan.