Expressing gratification over the start of the talks, the "Hochi Shimbun? mentions reports that Britain and America attempted to block them, In this connection, the newspaper remarks that the Democracies oppos to be thinking that closer relations between Japan and Russia may result in direct oF indirect assistance to Germany.
Aller referring to_Japancse-Soviet border. clashes, and the possibilities of their developing into major hostillties, the "Hecht Shimbun" declares thai, ipso facto, the relations between Russia and Japan have a direct con nection with peace in the Far East, The "Chugai Shogyo" says the faci that Japanese-Soviet relations are taking a turn for the better is a matter for congratulation, while the "Miyako Shimbun" expects much from the conversations between Admiral Nomura and M. Smetanin.
Questioned regarding the sudden change of attitude of the Japanese press towards the Soviet Union, the morning' conference declared Foreign Office spokesman at this
that the relations between Japan and the Soviet Union had become better since the conclusion of the Nomonlilian Truce agreement.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.