Tokyo, Dec. 4.
Mr. Y. Suma, Japanese Foreign Office spokesman, who recently visited Shanghai, today stated that the conclusion of a non-egression pact was in no way the Japanese aim in the current Russo-Japanese negotiations. The negotiations were being held, he added, in order to settle outstanding matters between the two countries including trade, fishery, treaty, boundary and the Saghalien concessions questions. It was for this purpose that the Japanese were concentrating upon the negotiations.
He heartily concurred with a recent article which appeared in the Soviet newspaper "Pravda" in which the hope was expressed that an agreement would be reached with Japan.
Meanwhile, he concluded, Japan was watching Soviet activities in Finland. On these he refused to comment.
Attempt to Intimidate I
Tokyo, Dec. 4.
Slanderous reports spread by the American press would not hamper Jepan and the Soviet Union in establishing peace in the Far East, the "Pravda," leading Russian new: paper, declared on Saturday, according to dispatches received here today from Moscow.
The Russian publication charged ihe American press with attempting to intimidate Japan in the establishment of friendly relations with Russia. The "Pravda" asserted that American newspapers were claiming that the concentration of the British Far Eastern feet in Singapore would facilitate the American air force if raids ever were made on Japan The American press, however, was finding it "impossible to hamper the joint peace policy of the two countries and their attempts to strengthen the peace fabric in the Far East, based on the Nomonham truce agree ment," it was stated.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.