THE FAR EAST.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 August 1922, Page 5

THE FAR EAST.

HITCH IN NEGOTIATIONS. JAPANESE FORCES WITHDRAWN. By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright. Tokio, July 29. Unexpected hitches are appearing in the Chita-Japanese negotiations for the renewal of the conference with the object of concluding a commercial treaty. Chita presumably is encouraged from Moscow, and is refusing to consider some of the Japanese proposals regarding the scope of the conference. The Japanese press declares that Chita is submitting everything to the Moscow Government, from which instructions come, and indicates that if Chita continues to show a procrastinating attitude depending upon Moscow’s support, the Japanese will be obliged to resort to a free hand in pro Acting Japanese subjects in Siberia, adding that the result will be to the disadvantage of Chita. Reports from Vladivostock state that the community is living in fear of a revolution. The presence of the Japanese alone prevents an outbreak. General Diedrich heads one faction, including almost the whole of the White army, while President Murkulow, supported by the navy and a few troops, heads the other. The election is now proceeding. There are indications that the Diedrich faction will win. Merkulov is holding a ship ready to leave. Thousands of Koreans are daily passing through Vladivostock to the hinterlands, where they are welcomed by the Russians. They report that the Japanese troops in »Siberia are becoming growingly affected by Bolshevism, which is causing much uneasiness among the higher command. A fiumber of officers have been recalled recently. It is believed in some quarters that the spread of Communistic ideas is one of the main reasons for Japan’s decision to withdraw her whole force from Siberia.