JAPAN & SOVIET

Grey River Argus, 3 April 1944, Page 5

JAPAN & SOVIET

NEW AGREEMENT On Sakhalin Coal and Oil LONDON, March 31. At the instigation of Russia, the agreement giving Japan coal and oil concessions in Northern Sakhalin until 1970 has been terminated. Moscow radio broadcast the text of the fisheries agreement there. The radio stated: “Simultaneously is published the text of a protocol between Russia and Japan for the transfer of Japanese coal and oil concessions. in Northern Sakhalin to the Soviet and the repatriation of J'apanese nationals engaged in concession enterprises. The Soviet in 1925 ceded to Japan these concessions. The agreement was concluded for 45 years. During the negotiations about the conclusion of the Russian-Japanese Neutrality Pact in 1941, the Soviet raised the question of the liquidation of the Japanese concessions an f j Japan undertook to settle the question not later than six months aftef the signing of the Neutrality Pact. This undertaking was not carried out and -fihe agreement about Liquidation was signed only as a result of negotiations which ended on March 30.” The radio stated that the fisheries agreement provides that fishing will be prohibited for the duration tv J'apanese nationals and other foreigners in certain maritime areas of the Far East. The Japanese have undertaken to guarantee that Japanese leaseholders shall not exploit before the Pacific war ends the fisheries off the eastern coast of Kamchatka and also Li tlhe Dalibor area.

The National Broadcasting Corporation’s Moscow correspondent says: By the ,'termfeation of the Japanese oil and coal concessions in the northern half of Sakhalin Island, Russia has won a clear-cut bloodless diplomatic victory in the Pacific. Japan will get the oil alreadj' stored in northern Sakhalin, but will leave her concession equipment for the Russians. The actual transfer will start in five days’ time. The Associated Press Moscow correspondent says that Russia has agreed to furnish Japan with 50,000 tons of oil yearly for five years, but deliveries will not begin until after the end of the present war. The Press Association’s diplomatic correspondent comments: “Japan’s desire and willingness to placate Russia, even .at the cost of a considerable sacrifice, is exemplified by the Sakhalin announcement. The island’s coal supplies are of good quality and are very abundant and. with the oil supplies, which .are particularly valuable because of their purity, ’ they have unquestionably been making a considerable contribution to’ the Japanese war effort. It is significant that at the moment when the Japanese are admitting the strain upon their war industries and resources thev should agree, although apparently after some delay and procrastination, to' give up a concession not due to expire until 1970.” “Izvestia” says: “These .agreements prove the right course of the Soviet’s f'peign policy and demonstrate- a mutual understanding with regard i.p our allies in the Pacific.” Tokio official radio, discussing the new agreement, said that rongpending matters that have been constant problems between the two nations have been solved at one stroke which “illustrates that the RussianJapanese neutrality pact is rigidly maintamed It also proves that the relationship between Japan and the Soviet has been securely established.”