SAKHALIN ISLAND

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 30, 4 August 1923, Page 7

SAKHALIN ISLAND

SOVIET OFFER TO JAPAN

SALE OF NORTHERN.FORTIOMr.,;

(TOITBD msa ASSOCUHON.-COP»IOHt>) (ACSIEALUN-MW UUMD CABLE ASSOCUTm ) T . ,„ .. LONDON, 3rd August. 7? •♦ a *y Tele 8raPh" states on the authority-of a correspondent tfoat the Soviet offers to sell Japan the northern part of Sakhalin Island for 3000 Son yen (nominally £300,000,000), or a£ annual payment equal to the interest on the amount. The Soviet Government withdraws the demand for unequivocal political recognition, which Japan has definitely refused, • - •

The proposed sale of the northern part .' of the island of Sakhalin will, if car ned out transfer the whole of the island to Japan. Sakhalin Island (cali«d itarafuto by the Japanese,) lies to the north of Japan, and off the coast of bibena, and measures about 670 miles long from north to south, and from 20 to 150 miles in width. ■ The mountains - are densely forested, the sea cold and 'l^ ™^u an v of ice *"* » winter, _ and the climate is consequently wet and raw; but the territory is economicallvi ■"'■ valuable Both «ea Li toffSv full of fish; and coal, gold, petroleum, ' and naphtha are found. The northern part of the island has been administered ■' by Russia from the mainland. In 1875 the southern part was ceded to Russdi by Japan m return for some of the Jlunle Islands; and Russia turned th« whole place into a great convict ■settlement. After the Russo-Japanese war,: however, Japan resumed possession of the southern half. .