Russo – Jap. Tension Over Border Dispute

Northern Advocate, 23 July 1938, Page 5

Russo - Jap. Tension Over Border Dispute

(Received 8.30 a.m.) LONDON, July 21. The Japanese Ambassador to Russia, Mr Shigemitsu, is reported from Moscow to have rejected the Soviet’s reply to the Japanese protest against the occupation of Changkufeng, Manchukuo, by Russian troops. The Soviet Foreign Minister, M. LitvinofT, said the border had not been violated, and added that Russia would not yield to threats. He made the counter-protest that the Japanese had trespassed on the Soviet Embassy’s property without intervention by the police. Although Mr Shigemitsu’Bl statement sounds like an ultimatum, it must be remembered that Moscow and Tokio frequently use strong language. Soviet opinion fs not inclined to believe that Tokio will carry out her | threat to make a demonstration in force. It is considered that Japan is too deeply engaged in China to precipitate war with Russia. A despatch from Tokio says it is generally believed that the border dispute will blow over, as far as Japan is concerned, unless the Soviet is unusually obdurate. The Foreign Office spokesman denies that Mr Shigemitsu threatened force. He admitted that M. Litvinoff might have received that impression, and added that Japan insisted upon the withdrawal of the Russian troops, and the re-establishment of the status quo, after which the boundary question could be taken up. The spokesman declined to reveal whether Japan’s next steps would be diplomatic, although it is understood that the Cabinet considered that course.