As regards alleged Soviet aggression and mischief-making, the Foreign Minister had quite a hard time explaining that, in his opinion, there were not sufficient grounds for stating that Russia was burning with ambition to become top dog in North Manchuria at least. His, words, however, it was evident, did not convince his interpellator," Mr. Koku Mori, of the Siyukai," who road various statements, including private letters from " reputable business men, to the effect that Soviet aggression, in various forms, was tending to east an "ugly loud on life in. Manchu Then turning to his colleagues, Mr. Mori said: "I" am surprised that Baron Shidehara thinks the reports of Russian aggression Manchuria are not founded on fact. What exactly is meant by fact? These things cannot be sifted as though a judge could in a law court, It is impossible to get- so-called facts in international dealings. We must draw contusions from the various reports we receive and that before it is too late, Our country declared war upon Czarist Russia because general reports at that time indicated that Russia had designs on Manchuria, Korea and even on Japan.
"So far as I'am concerned there' is no question whatever that the Soviet is aggressive in the Extreme Orient, and T want. to. know. if proper measures have been taken by the Government and if t0 what these are. It goes without saying that Japan cannot allow the spread of Bolshevik doctrines in Manchuria and Korea. This is one of the reasons why the police thought fit to suppress the. proletarian party. The Foreign Minister has stated in this house that the rights and interests Japan possessed were the fruit of two victorious wars—the Sino-Japanese war and the Russo-Japanese war. I want to know if our Government is taking measures to preserve and safeguard these rights and interests, iron Shidehara's reply was that, such a question could not be an-red in public by a Foreign Minister and that the honourable gentleman ought to be well aware of this,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.