Tokyo, Sept. 19.
"Mr. Koh Ishii, Deputy Spokesman of the Information Board, at today's foreign press conference, commenting on yesterday's protest to the Soviet Government regarding the of Soviet mines off northern in the Japan Sea, asserted that despite Japanese representations these mines repeatedly have been discovered floating in Japanese waters, apparently torn from their moorings, endangering shipping.
Mr. Ishii pointed out that according to International Law, mines which have broken loose from their moorings must automatically become harmless; however, in this case no such steps were observed. This matter must be protested. It is a matter of common sense, he said."
Mr. Ishii disclosed that the Japanese protest was handed to the Soviet Embassy in Tokyo, and added that no reply had been received yet.
The spokesman asserted it the Soviets must remove these floating mines. However, he said this does not concern those fixed to moorings.—Domei.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.