It is gratifying to note that oar relations 1 Soviet Union con tinue to make a st Contracts for concessions of oil and coal fields, and concession in Northern Saghalien were signed on December 14 by the Russian authorities and representatives, of our industrial concerns. Such results, assured as they were under the Treaty of Peking of a year agg, would not have been attained if. the Soviet Government had taken no interest, in the promotion of a Russo-Japanese economic cooperation, We welcome the suecessful issue of these negotiations as a fitting testimony to sentiments of 00d neighbourhood uniting the two nations. We seek no exclusive friendship with ary nation, We are excited by honest friendship to all nations. We believe that this: s the wisest course for Japan to pursue. With this end in view we should avoid all hasty conclusions to the intention of other Powers, based on mere stretches imaginal and unsupported by conerete evidence, In many eases unjust, suspicion and unwarranted prejudice have been at the root of venous intern tional complications.
In approaching at this juncture the questions of Russo-Japanese relationship. we should carefully bear in mind these considerations. Rumours have recently been elt~ culated charging the Soviet Union with certain aggressive designs Nort Manchuria, So far as_my information extends I have discovered no ground. for attaching any credence to such—reports, Since the resumption of official relations. between Japan and the Soviet Union a year ago we have constantly maintained close cone tact with the Soviet Government and have effected frank exchanges of views and information, from time to time, on all questions affecting the mutual " relations of the two countries. 'Throughout such profeeedings Wwe have been striving' to dispel all groundless misunderstand~ ings and to: promote a friendly intercourse between the two nations, We shall continue to use our best efforts in the same direction,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.