Moscow, Sept. 2.
Though Japan does not call in Jauestion the pacific intentions of the central government of the U.SS.R, it Is nonetheless a fact that local Soviet authorities in the Far East continuously indulge themselves in provoca~ tive activities against the Japanese.
Such is the opinion expressed. by Ohta, Japan's Ambassador (o Mos~ cow, to M. Stomoniakoff, Soviet Vice-Commissar for Foreign Affairs, in the course of a call paid by the Tokyo envoy yesterday when the two diplomats held a lengthy conversation witha special bearing on Far-Eastern problems.
It has been pointed out by M. Ohta that he was speaking on his personal responsibility, without any special instructions of his Government, and thus the interview between' the Japanese diplomat and the Soviet statesman bore no official character whatsoever. Nevertheless, it can be safely assumed that views expounded by M. Ohta correspond to the state of mind of the Japanese leaders.
During the conversation the Japan-Jose Ambassador slated that the situation in the Far Est is extremely strained, to which M. Slomoniakoft retorted' that the Japanese were responsible for this tension.
'Thereupon the two diplomats discussed means of a practical nature which coilld be applied in order to Dut an end to the tension in the two countries' relations.
Troops Removed Ohta expressed the opinion that it was necessary not only to arrive soon as possible at a settlement of the cession of the Chinese Eastern Railway to Manchoukuo, but that lather, more decisive, steps should be taken, namely: to evacuate all' the troops, Japanese as well as Soviet from the districts of the Far East|U: Which present danger points and where there is reason to fear the occurrence of frontier incidents which might lead to a conflict.
Insofar as this proposal was made 'M. Ohta_on his personal responsibility, Mf. Stomoniakoft replied that he wilt refer this idea of the Japanese Ambassador to his superiors. Thus, this conversation will be continued before long.
The call of the Japanese Ambassador on the Soviet Foreign Vice-'Commissar is considered as being of utmost importance, in local political circles. Though M. Ohta contented, himself with semi-official conversation, this demarche is regarded as an endeavour toward attaining a re-Taxation in the relations between the countries.
Of course, any definite interpretation lof this step of the Japanese Ambas-[sador would be premature, and there
manoeuvre for the purpose of em-2 possibility that it was simply a harassing the USSR.
It i believed that a decisive conclusion may be reached in this con-ection in the immediate future vas. spokesman declared. He added that the Soviet government had frequently addressed complaints to the Japanese consulate at Harbin, when such protests should have been addressed to. the Manchoukuo authorities.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.