by Tokio Tokio, Apr. 28.
In a statement, detailing the course of negotiations with the Merkulov Government concerning the Japanese fisheries on the Siberian littoral, and refuting the alleged Russian claims in disregard of earlier agreements and the Russian demands for alleged arrears of rent which have not yet been investigated, the Foreign Office declares that, by fixing April 4 as the date for the auction of fishing areas without allowing the Japanes time to participate, and also in disregarding other existing regulations, the Russians have shown a lack of sincerity, and therefore Japan was unable to recognize the legality of the auction snd in order to protect her legitimate rights and interests she was compelled to recognize the powers of her own Japanese association to fix payments in accordance with past precedents, and to despatch the necessary vessels for the protection of Japanese interests within her own sphere of operations.
The Japanese Government is ready to negotiate with the Russian authorities on any question arising from these decisions—Reutar,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.