DEALINGS WITH SOVIET

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 39, 15 February 1941, Page 12

DEALINGS WITH SOVIET

SLOW-TEMPERED STATE

APPROACH BY JAPAN

QUALIFYING CLAUSE IN TRIPARTITE PACT<

{By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.)

(Received February 15, 2 p.m.)

TOKIO, February 14.

Replying in the Diet to suggestions by members for the conclusion of a non-aggression pact with Russia in view of Japan's inability to obtain German or Italian help in the event of a Russo-Japanese war, the Foreign Minister, Mr.- Matsuoka, said: "We are doing everything possible to adjust Russo-Japanese relations. The Soviet is slow tempered, consequently it is taboo, for us to become impatient in dealing with it."

Mr. Matsuoka promised a revision of Article Five of the Rome-Berlin-Tokio apct, "if there is danger of our relations with the Soviet being overtaken by the worst eventuality." .

He said that misgivings regarding the blocking of German or Italian aid to Japan in the event of a Russo,Japanese war could be understood, but Article Five, when it was formulated, envisaged the adjustment of all difficulties between Russia and Japan.

The Minister added that the atmosphere was favourable for ani adjustment of relations "because the Soviet seems to have recognised that Japan's true intentions are to settle differences in earnest."

"Russia," he said, "has also taken the attitude of accelerating the conclusion o.f-the commercial pact, which was hopeless last year."

Article Five of the Pact states: "Germany, Italy and Japan affirm that the terms of the pact do not in any way affect the political status which exists at present (September 27, 1940) as between each of the three contracting parties and Soviet Russia."