Tokio, May 27.
A decisive step forward towards the resumption of Russo-Japanese relations has been taken by the Soviet instructing. Comrade A. A. Joffe, who is. looking after the Russian end of the semi-official negotiations proceeding in Tokio, to drop the claim for formal recognition which Moscow has been very insistent about and which Japan, with as much emphasis, evaded considering. This means that one of the main things on which Russia had set her heart—recognition by a major " Power—has been tempora arily abandoned, perhaps because this will undoubtedly make the path of future negotiations fax smoother, Considerable optimism now colours the outlook with regard to a speedy resumption of RussoJapantse relations. The decision of Moscow not to make recognition a sine qua non for the resumption of relations is regarded here as a-sign of Russia's desire to meet all Japan's demands and is heralded as a good augury. The Tokio Chamber of Commerce, at a meeting of the Chambers of Conjmerce throughout the country, has definitely decided that Russo-Japanese relations should be resumed immediately. '[he feeling of the Tokio Chamber off Commerce was endorsed by the various other Chambers of Commerce in Japan. Business interests Have always been strongly in favour of coming to an understanding with Russia. The Japanese consul at Vladivostok, Mr. Watanabe, who Gd not leave the Russian city when the British and the American consular officials decided to quit, owing to the Soviet's insisting that foreign consular officials must apply for and receive ezequaturs from Moscow, is said to be there only in the capacity of a private citizen. The fact that Tokio has not recalled him is regarded as a powerful indication of speedy resumption of, at Toast, commercial relations between Russia and Japan.
Japan has sea privileged recent-cal celebrities of the West—Leopold ly to hear two of the greatest musi-
Godowsky and Fritz Kreisler. Both
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.