Tokyo, Dec. 19.
The stock exchange, which has been veering between caution and pessimism for some time, enlivened somewhat today as the result of a series of optimistic rumours. Traders tended to believe that the international situation is beginning to incline somewhat in favour of Japan.
They were made optimistic by the rumours that the Soviet Union is ready to resume negotiations on the fishery question as well as start negotiations for the conclusion of a commercial treaty.
Dealers were made even more cheerful by reports that the Govergment is taking a rather optimistic view of the future of American-Japanese trade as a sequel to Japan's decision to lift the ban on navigation in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River.—Reuter, Helsinki, Dec. 19.
Russian bombs were dropped on the outskirts of Helsinki this morning. Eighteen Russian "planes participated in the raid but only four succeeded in reaching the capital. They flew at a great height.
Russian aircraft were especially active on the south coast of Finland yesterday. It is reported that some Russian bombers were shot down near Viborg. The Russians are reported to have bombed a hospital marked with the Red Cross.—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.