Tokyo, Nov. 27.
Britain undertook not to interfere any way" with the exportation of German "goods carried in neutral vessels ina communication to the Japanese Governement dated September 29, the spokesman for the Foreign Oifice claimed here today, when ques tioned by foreign eorrsspondents about the contention of the Japanese Government that the projected British measure of seizing" German exports "not only exceeds the limits of re: prisal recognized under International Law, but violates the undertaking of the Brilish Government, made to the Japanese Government not to interfere invarly way with the exportation of the German goods.
"The Japanese Embassy in London, the spokesman stated," submitted a questionnaire to the Enemy Section of the British Institute regarding various points, 'The Institute, according to the Spokesman, replied that the British 'Authorities' would not take any action against neutral vessels carrying Ger~ man goods—namely the products and manufactured articles from Germany destined for neutral countries.
'This reply of the British Institute, the spokesman added, was confirmed by the British Ministry' of Beonomle Warfare, The British undertaking, the Gaimusho spokesman asserted, was "quite straight and not conditional" as it Implied that no interference would be made. with. German expasts "oven British territorial waters."
Terukunt Maru Sinking Instructions have been sent to Mr. Mamoru Shigemitsu, the Japanese Ambassador in London, and. Mr, Uzuhiko Usami, "Japanese Charge @'Affaires in Berlin, to request formal explanations fromthe British and German Governments on the sinking of the inv. Terukuni Maru. The Foreign Office, it was announced today, sent instructions 03 Saturday night.
It was understood that the Japanese Government would take further action Tokyo, Nov. 20, "Such rumours are unconfirmed" said the Foreign Office spokesman, today when questioned about a dis-|~ patch from Home. published in the "Nichi Nichi," reporting that secret agreement had been con cluded "between Germany and "the Soviet Union, for placing Viadivostok at the disposal of German commercial raiders, Questioned by a correspondent whether Japanese vessels were not Mable to attacks by German raid ers, the spokesman said should some trouble occur, Japan wanle Seek settlement in accordance With the international neutrality Taw. He emphasized that Japan's policy towards the European war was one of non-intervention, The dispatch to which the spokes man referred states unconfirmed reports of a secret German-Soviet Agreement covering naval opera tions in Far Eastern waters are persisting throughout Italy, It is rumoured, says the "Nich: Nichi" correspondent, that the Ger-[man Government has concluded negotiations to purchase half of the Soviet submarine fleet at Viadivosick, for the purpose of preying on {British and French shipping in' the Paelfle, China Sea and Indian Ocean port as a fons for such a For Eastern submarine feet.
German naval men are alleged to have been hurriedly sent " to Vindivostok for the purpose of tak-Ing over about 20 submarines, 'The correspondent adds that other sources In Rome say two Ger man battleships, one being the Deutschland, are in the Indian Ocean, and possibly may be on their way to. Vladivostok' to start operations against Allied shi lon with the subr Japan Releases Troops To Gather Harvest Tokyo, Nov. 27.
Shortage of agricultural manpower Japan because of the Sino-Japanese war forced the War Ministry to demobilize an additional large number of troops yesterday.
For the second time in a week the War Office announced that army men were being released from training to Aid In harvesting crops in the Hok-alde and Tohoku districts, 'The War OMec empowered divi-Jona] commanders in' the Kwanst and Kyushu districts either to shorten the term of military training for those to be released or 10 postpone the training period until after the harvest—United Press fon the sinking of the N. ¥. 1K. liner after a careful study of explanations {Decision to request explanations from the two countries was reached after officials of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs conferred with quarters concerned with the sinking The my. Terukuni Maru went down ff the east coast of England early ist work, She wes believed to have struck a imine—Demei.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.