Opinion here continues to be extremely puzzled by the attitude of the Soviet Government toward the Japanese fishing rights along the Siberian coast, which, as reported here, seems designed to provoke the Japanese.
Not only have the Soviets refused to agree to a permanent agreement covering these fisheries, but as a preliminary to putting'a temporary modus vivendi into effect for the coming year, have demanded that Japan relinquish from 75 to 80 per cent. of the fishing lots that she now holds. The reported reason is that the corresponding parts of the Siberian seaboard are needed for military purposes, and this is regarded as a very bold, if not impudent, stand for the Russians to take.
It, is. wondered whether they are actually trying to goad the Japanese into war, though the general opinion here is that the Russians, owing to their internal conditions, specially in the Red army, are hardly able to wage a successful war with Japan, particularly as they- face the likely prospect of having ito fight Germany at the other end, at the same time.
Another thesis is that the Soviets are trying to create a diversion against Japan in connection with the latter's China war, as well as encouraging the Chinese "Reds at the same time, in response to the latter's constant appeals for more and better assistance in their struggle with Japan, This was the reasoning applied also to the Changkaofeng. incident in the summer of this year, in part, at any rate.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.