This is the Soviet side of the picture, which is not difficult to understand.. Why the Japanese Government should accede to a demand for the restitution may not be so apparent. The answer which covers most ground is "fish." As everyone knows fish plays a huge part in the domestic economy of the Japanese people. In the Orient it is just as commonly known that the Siberian fisheries' contribute very largely indeed to Japan's supply of fish, not to mention that they provide employment and profit for thousands of sailors, shipowners, importers, dealers and exporters. The loss of this trade would be a stupendous blow which would affect eventually every household in Japan. The right to cary on this trade, failing successful negotiation. with the Soviet Government, can only be guaranteed by a reversal of the policy of the Japanese Civil Government, by the re-occupation of Siberian ports that is by a considerable outlay for military expenses—and by naval protection.
This is an alternative which the officials of the Japanese civil Government would do anything within reason to avoid. At home the military expenditure would be unpopular and it would mean the resurrection of the waning influence of the military caste in all Government departments, which from the new Japanese point of view would be retrogression. Abroad the reopening of hostilities with Siberia over a question of fish would be regarded with the most profound suspicion. Since the cancellation of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance Japan has very obviously felt her isola and has made_marked efforts to cultivate the confidence of her best market, America. Whatever America may think of the Soviet—and_ no country thinks less of that institution—Japan's withdrawal from Siberia has undoubtedly boosted her.moral credit in America enormously. This the civil Government in Japan would be loth of sacrifice. Long before there was any question of American concessions in Saghalien, the American Government expressed its disapproval of the Japanese, occupation of the Russian half of the island. If Japan were now to refuse to get. out grace. fully when opportunity offered and trifling matier as fish, the Japanese Government would be stormed with pompous announcements from Washington and with rabid denuciations from the whole American press.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.