RUSSIA AND JAPAN.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8178, 20 July 1912, Page 5

RUSSIA AND JAPAN.

NO ALLIANCE BUT UNDERSTANDING REGARDING SPHERES OF INFLUENCE. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received July 19, 10.30 p.m.) LONDON, July 19. Reuter’s Tokio correspondent states that the reports that a Russo-Japanese alliance is to be consummated at an early date are incorrect. There have been no negotiations with such a purpose, and none are projected. Most important Notes, however, have passed between the two Foreign Ministries, supplementing the agreements of 1907 and 1910, with a view of defining Russia’s sphere of influence in Outer Mongolia and Northern Manchuria, and Japan’s sphere in Inner Mongolia and Southern Manchuria—“lnner Mongolia” meaning that portion of (Manchuria formerly so-called. The negotiations, the correspondent states, have led to the clearest understanding, and have created an entente of the greatest importance in the preservation of peace in the Far East—second only in importance to the Anglo. Japanese alliance.