JAPAN AND RUSSIA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19205, 23 June 1924, Page 7

JAPAN AND RUSSIA

SECRET TREATY DENISD. NEGOTIATIONS STILL PROCEEDING. Pros* Aoaaciation—By Telegraph—Copyright, NEW YORK, June 20. The New York Times’s Tokio correspondent interviewed the Foreign Minister (Baron Shidehara), who categorically denied the Paris report that a secret treaty exists between Japan and Russia by whin); Japan would supply heavy artillery and warships to Russia in exchange for oil concessions at Saghalien. Baron Shidehara staled that such rumours were utterly without foundation. He also denied that Japan was backing the Russo-Chinese Treaty. He pointed out that Japan and Russia had reached no agreement. It is known, however, that Japan expects to obtain oil, coal, and timber concessions in Northern Saghalien, and compensation for the massacre of Nikolaievsk. The negotiations between Mr Koshizawa (Japanese Minister at Peking) and M. Karawan (the Soviet Envoy) have revolved particularly round this point, and are now at a standstill, while Mr Kosliizawa is en route to Tokio to inform the new Government regarding the position of the negotiations. The correspondent learns that Mr Koshizawa will ask his Government to moderate its demands in view of Japan's need of fuel and Russia's determination to grant concessions without self-protection provisos.—A. and N.Z. Cable.