JAPAN AND THE SOVIET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18662, 19 March 1924, Page 9

JAPAN AND THE SOVIET.

ARRESTS OF HER SUBJECTS. NEGOTIATIONS FOR RELEASE (Received 10.15 p.m.) Reufcer. PEKING, Mar. 17. The Japanese Minister called on Mr. Karakhan, representative of the Russian Soviet, acting on instructions from Tokio, been opened. in order to endeavour to reach a settlement of the dispute which has arisen between Japan and Russia, which must precede any discussions relating to the recognition of the Soviet Government. At a previous meeting M. Karakhan said he was of opinien, regarding the arrests of Japanese subjects at Vladivostok, that the naval and military officers concerned could not be recognised as officials, as they were in Russian territory only to study the language. Ho was prepared, however, to recommend the release of the Vice-Consul and two Consular interpreters who were engaged in official duty. The Japanese Minister asked for the release of all those arrested. M. Karakhan promised to telegraph to Moscow recommending the immediate release of the Consular officials at least. The direct result of the recent Russian activities in connection with the Japanese has thus been to set back the informal negotiations which might otherwise already have led to an understanding on which formal negotiations could have been opened.