JAPAN AND SOVIET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18642, 25 February 1924, Page 7

JAPAN AND SOVIET.

no: hope OF recognition. RADICAL INFLUENCE FEARED. ESTRANGED BY RECENT ACTS. By Telegraph—Press , Association—Copyright. . (Received 5 p.m.) A. and ; N.Z. * NEW YORK. Feb. a 3. The Tokio correspondent of the New York Times states that after three years' intermittent negotiations the last hope of the Japanese recognition of the Soviet in Russia seems to have disappeared. A coup :de grace occurred with the. expulsion of Soviet journalists. Many recent incidents conspired to result in the cessation of negotiations. Among them were the cancellation of the official status of the Japanese Consul at Vladivostock, the suspension of the mail service between Yladivostock and Japan, and the prohibition of contracts between Japanese and Russian business men. Baron Mitsui, who is in open controversy with M. Karahan, head of the Soviet mission to China, has indicated clearly that Japan is apprehensive of Soviet influence, especially as regards the radical tendencies manifested in Japan since the earthquake disaster.

ORDERED TO LEAVE. JAPANESE AT VLADIVOSTOK. LOSS OF GOODS THREATENED Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Reed. 11.45 p.m.) TOKIO, Feb. 23. A report has just been received that the Russian authorities have ordered all Japanese merchants at Vladivostock to dispose of their goods within three days. Confiscation follows failure to obey the order. This affects 60 Japanese merchants It is understood the Japanese Government is arranging drastic measures if the order is actually enforced.

DEVELOPMENT OF FRICTION INTERNATIONAL POSITION. HIGH TONE BY RUSSIA. Times. LONDON. Feb. 22. The Tokio correspondent of the Times says that friction between Russia and Japan is rapidly developing. The Soviet Government informed Japan that the Soviet's international position had been recently strengthened while Japan's has weakened. Therefore the Soviet have decided not to make further attempts to negotiate with Japan for settlement of outstanding questions, but would quietly wait. The Soviet added: "Time is on.our side." The Soviet also informed the Japanese Consul at Vladivostock that his presence and that of all Japanese official representatives in Soviet territory was undesirable. He was therefore requested to withdraw. Relations between the Soviet and Japan have been strained ever since the Soviet offered to render assistance w> sufferers through the earthquake disaster, on condition that Soviet officials were allowed to supervise the distribution of relief on a class basis, by which means obviously it was hoped to combine propaganda with relief. . , Japan refused such , assistance, and ordered the Soviet relief ship to quit the port. The Soviet then announced that the relief committee would be dissolved, as Japan's attitude was incompatible with Soviet ideas of relief.

RUSSIA REFUSES MAILS. PRESSMEN ORDERED AWAY. ■ •r* . ' . A. and NZ. TOKIO. Feb. 22. There is no doubt that friction between Russia and Japan is growing. Russia has informed the Japanese Post Office that transportation of mails to Siberia will not be continued, and Japanese press correspondents in Moscow have been ordered to withdraw.