Although frequent references are made to the clash of Japanese and Russian interests on the borders of Manchoukuo and—Mongolia, significant of the general friendliness of relations between Moscow and Tokyo that accord has been lately reached on two important issues: the Ashery auctions and the oil leases in Sakhalin. "Mr, Manoru Shigemitsu, the Ambassador designate to Soviet Russia, has cautiously stated that conclusion of those agreements does not necessarily dispose of all difteulty in Russo-Japanese relationships, must be abundantly clear that with those sources of controversy salis-factorily ranged, neither country will be inclined to allow boundary disputes in Manchoukuo to develop into major diplomatic issue to the pre-Judice of peace. It must also be Femembered that the arrangement whereby the former Chinese Eastern Railway has now come into Japanese hands carries with it the establishment of commercial links between the {wo countries. Japan is supply ing Soviet Russia with certain railway stock and equipment to the improvement of her trade returns. It may not be rash to say that clouds are lifting in Eastern Asiatic Russia and the confidence which this journal has firmly expressed in discount of rumours of war between Russia and Japan receives further justideation, Mr. Shigemitsu is the diplomat who is eminently fitted to. take full advantage of a favouring breeze and the happier conditions Ikely to accrue from recent Russo-Japanese understandings will give him strong Inspiration when he goes to take up his duties in Moscow next month.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.