Frow en OWN ContssroxDeNt Harbin, Mar. 17.
During General Honjo's visit, to Harbin he gave an interview to the di representatives of the Russian newspapers which ave. published in Harbin, The General stated that he had for n long time desired to pay a visit to Harbin and Tsitsihar where A number of the Japanese troops Under his command was. stationed, and more particularly he wished sonally to become, acquainted ith the position in Harbin after! the events of the past few months.
General Honjo stated that there! 4 complete peace and anier at present in Mukden, though a few days before his leaving that, town there was an alarming situation owing: to disorders having "occurred in' the town among the militia which consisted of Chinese soldiers. These disorders had, however, been fully} Viguidated, and: all was quiet. As! regards the rumours that, the staff of the Japanese Imperial Army moved from Mukden to Changchun, there fs no truth In this as the stall will remain at Mukden, "Having received information from our Ambassador in Mos Mr, Hirota, that reports were being spread of the formation of Russian detachments in Manchuria under] the protection of the Japanese army, and that the Soviet Government had even protested on this matter, Tain Uncertain as regards the protest, whether the protest. has been Presented or not, I trust say that the Moscow reports are not correct, and Tedeclare that no" Russi detachments are being formed in the Japanese army, and we have no intention of forming any such.
"Tam aware that there are very Russian emigrants. resi This element of the pop works very hard. to. support itself, but many of these emigrants have their own political views, Areams and ideas, but they t not fount upon any" help, from Japan this direction. 'The Japanese cannot, of course, dake any tin the politienl aspirations of emigrants, and 1 think. that the emigrants themiclves must know this. "The Japanese army. is only' trying to maintain order and jus-4 tice, and in this respect will give fpcrery, person the required protec-grants can only count upon the including emigrants, but these assist them in from incorrect come.
1 "am aware that many emigrants fre living in very poor' eireume tances, and this 1 tan only regret, jut inthe present apanese army and) Japan as a Whole, no material support can' be verite them. "I sincerely wish ese cmnigvants to live quietly ans fo work under rightful conditions Which will be made easier for them. Japane can in no case assist in the li tical work: of Russian emigrants, have heard that many' Russians ave interested in the question of faking up citizenship" inthe: New Manchurian State, As vegans Team only' say that 1 wise velva from giving any Kind of advice, a yes a matter which concerns only the new state. andthe eimigvants themselves, sat "The relations between the Japan exe nnd the Chinese Eastern Railway are only. those which concern the question of transporting Japanese troop, There have been very Jong negotiations with the admin tration of the Railway on the auc tion of transport, and during the negotiations several misunderstar ings, have acc fact thatthe site the Raleay™ hay mot "onder ood the real" purpose and task of the Japanese arm Now, however, these misunderstand, shave been brushed away, and Moscow, understanding the position, thas given its consent to the trans ort of Japanese troops under nor-Taal conditions.
have just heart of the riots Which have oceutved at. Sakhalyan Manchuli, but at. the. moment T have not full details. before me therefore, 1 cannot say any-nig about what measures may be looted to. suppress them, Dut T nust say that owing to the fact} that the Soviet Government is all the time suspicious of the move ments of the Japanese army and that, they are being carried out for special purposes, sve do not wish to move any of our troops as far a5] the Soviet, frontier, If the riots at 'Bakhalyan' att" Manebul do rot fron o&t to. be very -aeyi
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.