Moscow, July 16.
Japan lodged a strong protest at the Kremlin yesterday against the 374,000 rouble fine imposed on a Japanese petroleum firm operating a concession in Northern Saghalien.
The fine was recently confirmed by the Alexandrovsk Appeal Court, which found that the Japanese concern had indeed violated the labour contract it had signed with its Soviet employees, The protest was lodged by M. Shigenori Togo, Japanese Ambassador, when he called in person on M. Lizovski, Vice-Commissar for Foreign Affairs, M. Togo also made representations against Moscow's announced intentions to confiscate the holdings of the Japanese firm concerned if the huge fine Is not paid on Wednesday, July 19.
Paris, July 16.
Public opinion was greatly stirred in Germany during the past few days with the receipt of thousands of news letters signed by Commander Stephen King-Hall, the "Paris Soir" reported this evening. It claimed that the news letters, in the form of commentaries on political events, filtered into Germany from various countries, Britain, France, Belgium, Switzerland, Denmark and Norway. Some were even posted inside Germany. Moreover, the letters were sent in envelopes of different sizes and colours, These precautions, the "Paris Soir" said, were taken to prevent the German censorship system and Gestapo from wholly closing postal entrances to them.
In his latest batch of letters, Commander King-Hall dealt with the Reich's strict censorship over the press, which prevents full publication of speeches made by British statesmen.
"During the past year," the "Paris Soir" quoted the British politico! commentator, "We have heard a lot about German demands. But I must inform you that claims provoke other counter claims, and we have some demands, too.
"First, the foreign policy of the Nazi regime should be changed; we have enough of living in a perpetual crisis. It may be all the same to you. But nevertheless, you should know that we, too, are millions of people and that we do not want to continue with such a state of affairs any longer.
"Secondly, your Fuehrers should say here and now whether they intend to collaborate with us in an atmosphere of peace."
In conclusion, the French newspaper reported, Commander King-Hall dealt with the situation of the Czechs in the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia, and with the position of Jews in Germany.—Havas, "Firmer Attitude" Threatened M. Togo warned the Soviet official that "The Japanese Government will assume a firmer attitude to defend the interests of its nationals,"
The fined petroleum firm also appealed yesterday to the Supreme Praesidium for a suspension' of the court judgment, and M. Togo asked for an answer on July 18 at the latest.
M. Lozovski told him he could accept no such time limit, that the Soviet Government "will answer when able to do so."
Meanwhile, local negotiations between representatives of a Japanese coal-mining company of Saghalien and Soviet mining trade unions to establish a new working contract were reported to have made. some progress. The new contract will replace that which last expired December The trade unions originally de-mended that the Soviet miners' salaries be increased by 40 per cent. But it is understood that they have now agreed to 15 per cent instead.
Minor details of the contract still remain to be settled. One of these, which involves a large sum of money, is the controversy over the date of enforcement of the contract.
The trade unions wish it to be dated as from the beginning of this ar, whereas the Japanese concern shes it to enter into effect only now. No Soviet workman was employed by the Japanese firm since the beginning of the year.—Havas.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.