The incident in Vladivostok nth regard to the Bank of Chosen is symptomatic of the relations which have existed for some time between Japan and the Soviet for in the presence of many similar aims there is always sure to be a considerable divergence of interests. Consequently it is not to be expected that where interests of two powerful nations conflict at 50 many points as do those of Japan and the Soviet, such occurrences as those which have strained relations between these two countries should no' arise. There are many causes for irritation between the two, but the main sources of trouble may be summed up as the opposition of interests in Manchuria, the Siberian fisheries and Soviet propaganda in Japan and. Korea. Japan has for years regarded Manchuria as the source of much of the foodstuffs to be consumed on the over-populated islands, and has jealously watched any attempt diminish the influence which hag maintained' in the Three Eastern. Provinces. There has always been a clash of interest between Russia and Japan ea! this point. The flooding "of Manchuria with cheap Russian products, as is happening mow, and the attempt to divert Manchurian goods into Russia, to the disadvantage of Japan is not tending to the maintenance of the most cordial relations between the two countries. It} should be emphasized that the Soviet policy in the Far East, varies not a jot from that of its imperial predecessors, and the continual struggle for paramountcy in the North between the Soviet and Japan must naturally {nd to foster considerable amount of distrust.
Similarly, the dispute over the Siberfan fisheries is of long standing, but its present phases need some explanation. It is believed that Japan would willingly have ' assisted China against the invasion of Manchuria by the Soviet, but being itself a victim of Nationalist agitation, it has been obliged to come to some understanding with the Soviet, one aspect, of which involves the fisheries.
The importance of these to Japan is apparent, for fish forms 's0 large a proportion of the food of the Japanese masses that security of a continuation of the. supply from these rich grounds is a first essential. A carefully drawn-up modus vivendi providing for demarca tion of national limits, and mutual non-interference, appears to have been observed with no little care, but trouble commenced when Soviet vessels patrolling the fishing grounds mishandled a score of Japanese fishing parties on the complaint that they were violating the limits fixed. There appears tu have been more rashness than reason in the action of the Soviet authorities and the allegations upon which it was based, and the Japanese fishermen not only asked for protection from their own government, but demanded that they should be allowed to arm themselves against further molestation. Tokyo refused to supply them with arms, but allowed them to purchase such privately, while more Japanese war vessels were sent to Kamchatka waters. the same time, the Japanes Foreign Office does not appear to have been inclined to take any drastic steps against the Soviet, preferring to regard ity aggressiveness as the result of misunderstanding.—Soviet agents in Japan, however, were busy denying the charges of aggression and interference with the Japanese fishermen, though simultaneously their authorities in Vladivostok were undoubtedly interfering with the Bank of Chosen, through which Japanese fishing companies paid their rents and dues to the Soviet authorities.
On the ground that they suspected unlawful activities on the part of the Bank, the Soviet authorities forcibly entered the Vladivostok branch and inspected. its books. Protests were lodged by the Bank through diplomatic channels, and the bank which had been closed was eventually allowed to reopen and continue the work of, facilitating payments due to the Soviet-by Japanese fishing in terests. The effect of this present closure will be that) Japanese payments to the Soviet will be increased by about 60 per cent, involving a serious increase in the cost of. fish tothe Japanese consumer and thereby contributing further to the unrest, which claimed, simmers i the island empire. While it believed that, with the mary convincing and powerful arguments which Japan has on her side, an amicable settlement of this' present phase may be arrived at, it is impossible not to notice the apish mischievous-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.