Tokyo, Jan. 16.
While the fishery negotiations between Japan and the Soviet Union have made no progress, official reports reach~ ing Tokyo from Vladivostok state that the Soviet Far Eastern Fishery Bureau announced on January 15 that an auction 293 fishery lots would be held on March 15, Details are not available, but it is understood that Japanese fishery interests will not take part in the auction in case the proposed fishery lots include those for which negotiations are nov in progress at Moscow. engrossed in its own affairs and over the Ukraine issue with Germany to wish to come into armed conflict with Japan, 'A drift toward severance of diplomatic relations already has. beet evidenced. The Soviet consulates Hakodate, Japan, and Harbin, Manchoukuo, have been closed. There been considerable friction in the fields of Saghalien and some Japanese nationals have withdrawn, or been reported, from thet. section.
'Believing that. relations between the Soviet Japan are more strained. than at any' time since the Changkufeng fighting last year, some of the Embassies here have notified their home. governments that the ext few months will be a erveial ime in the affairs of these two tradi-Uonally antagonistic nations.
'The shenes issue between Japa and the Soviet is a complicated one Koing back to 1875, when a treaty Was signed providing' for, the exchange of Saghalien for the Kurile Islands and stipulating that Japanese fishing vessels were to enjoy "the same rights enjoyed by Russians."—United Press, Japan to Concentrate On Communications tien "particularly in the alt_and'
In commuieations
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.