AMERICANS' CONCESSIONS FROM SOVIET

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 61, 6 December 1920, Page 5

AMERICANS' CONCESSIONS FROM SOVIET

INTOLERABLE TO JAPAN. A cable message dealing with the reported conclusion of a commercial agreement between the Russian Soviet Government and an American financial fcroup has been received by tho Acting Consul-General for Japan in Australia, Mr. K. Tamaki, from tho Imperial Japanese Government'. Any attempt to deprive Japan of rights gained in the Russo-Japaneso war, sllys Mr. Tamaki, would create a position intolerable to Japan. The cable received by Mr. Tamaki was ■as follows:—"According' to information lately received by tho Japanese Government, an American financial group, wjitti which a certain Mr. Vanderlip' is said to bo connected, entered into an agreement with the Soviet Governmont of Russia. Under 1 this agreement it 'is reported that lihe- American group obtained from the Soviet Government tho leasehold right, for a .period, of sixty years, over a. tract of territory in Eastern Siberia, tb the cast of tho meridian of lGfldeg. east longitndo, covering the 400,000 square miles, inclusive of Kamschatka. Such right confers, during the term of tho lease, a moaoply by the financial' group aforesaid, of the coal, petroleum, and fishing industries. It is further reported, however, iihat the United States Government has made a declaration to the effect that tho Soviet Government of Russia not having been recognised, tlio United States could give no support to the agreement in oiiesfcion. In view of the fact that the Soviet! Government has iiot been recognised by -any of the Powers, it is hardly necessary to point out that the Japaneso Government! is in no way bound to take cognisance of any such private agreement, whoever tho parties thereto maybe, nor would it bo prepared to give iite assent to any act. or measure which infringes upon Japan's treaty rights in relation to Russia or affects her vital interest arising out of geographical and other considerations."

In commentEng upon the message, Mr. Tani-aki said:—"Japan's interests 'in Manchuria and Siberia aro very large, and they were bought with, the blood of thou, sands of her brave soldiers and millions of pounds of her patriotic people's money in the Russo-Japanese War. This fact has been recognised by all the Powers, including Great Britain and tho United States ...of America. Should,' therefore, any attempt be made to deprive her of such rights,.or to jeopardise her interests by obtaining conflicting rights, it would create a. position intolerable to Japan. It will bo seen, however,' by the above cable message, that the United! States Government gives due consideration to Japan's interests, and does not intend to give its sanction to the actions of the financial group, notwithstanding it? nationality.