The Japanese Ambassador to-day presented to the Soviet Foreign Ofice a note of protest against the Soviet" "Government's ction closing down the Vladivostok branch of the semicoficial Japanese Bank} of Chosen. The note which is fir worded claims that this constitutes an unfriendly act snd demands its reversal.
While the Foreign Office has far issued no statement the press points out that the bank was closed down by the Soviet authorities beaune of its flagrant br. hes of the fow regarding the export and im port of Soviet, curreney.—Trans-Decan Kuo afin Tokyo, Dee, 22, It is learned that Mr, Ogata, 1 Japanese acting Consul-General Vladivostok, approached the local Soviet offclals yesterday with a re. guest to suspend the: imposition of! duties on. the Vladivostok franch of the Bank of Korea pending a settle. ment of the matter through dip-Tomatic negotiations in Moscow!
Me. Ogata explained that his request was due to the fact that 1.—The duties imposed were based on the calculations of the Soviet authorities and that insuffcient time was giver to the Bank to query the findings; 2.—Too short notice was given, in connection date by which payment was demanded; 'S.cIn carrying oft the closure of the Bank the Soviet authorities wrongfully attached the safes, thereby preventing the Bank from supplying an account of its business; no reason to feel anxious regarding, the payment of justifiable taxes.
In the meantime it is understood that the Japanese Ambassador' in Moscow, conferred with M, Karak: lilian on December 19 and that the, latter promised to refer the matter to his Government for careful consideration, though he intimated that its reply might be delayed owing to, the approach of the annual Con: gress of Peiple's Comnissaries. Reuter,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.