Tokyo Press Scare Against Soviet Russia Seen as Screen to Cover China War Stalemate Tokyo, Jan. 26. 4CYJIGOROUS steps" to end the "strong pressure" allegedly exerted by Moscow upon Japanese enterprises and nationals in the Soviet Far East were demanded by representatives of the Minseito and Seiyukai parties during a call on the Foreign Minister, Mr. Koki Hirota yesterday.
They emphasized the necessity for removing Soviet restrictions on the operation of Japanese oil concessions in North Saghalien—Domei, Tokyo, Jan. 26.
The reported anxiety of the Japanese over the military activities of the Soviet appears to be exaggerated. The Japanese Government's fundamental policy seems to be based on the fact that the Soviet has not so far taken an aggressive part in the Sino-Japanese conflict and is therefore not likely so to do.
Press agitation against Russia arises, it is believed, from a. lack of "hot news" from' China, where the military situation is at a stand~ still and the Japanese leaders are evidently ina quandary over the next step to he taken to achieve their avowed purpose of crushing China, 'As a result, Ht Is necessary to dis tenet public' opinion, The fact that the Japanese press under instructions to "cut-down" on anti-British propaganda, which, important circles realized, was get-{ing out of hand, and thai there are standing orders not to criticize the United States, leaves the Japanese press Jacking in "circulation-raisers," with the exception of the Soviet scare,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.