Moscow, June 28.
On May 31, a Soviet refrigerator ship ran aground in the Laperouse Strait in the vicinity of Japanese shores. Instead of rendering assistance, customary in international relations, the Japanese authorities arrested the ship and imprisoned the captain, explaining their actions by the fact that the ship has violated the prohibited zone.
The arrest of the Soviet ship and captain is a direct violation of Clause 9 of the Portsmouth Treaty which forbids Japan to erect any military fortifications or any other military objects on the shores of this strait. and also binds the Japanese government to create no obstacles to free navigation in the strait.—Tass.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.