Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1925-04-10
JAP-RUSSIA OIL.
CONCESSION 0, K,
OFFICIALS FIND
Report hat Govern
ment Distrusts Clause
of Treaty Vigorously
Denied in Washington
(By The Associated Press

WASHINGTON, ID. c., April IO-Pub-
llshed reports that the Washington gov.
ernment views with suspicion and dis
trust oil concession provisions Of the
new Russo-Japanese treaty are causing
great concern to high officials of the
administration. 1t can be stated on
unquestionable authority that such pub
locations are without foundation in fact.
10 m"l declaration to that effect may
be considered necessary should mis-
statements as to the government atti-
tude continue to be circulated.
The question as to the nature and
purpose of the oil concession granted
to Japanese interests by the treaty has
come before the Washington govern
ment only on the strength of briefs
submitted in behalf of the previous con-
cession obtained by the ST, clair oil in
terests in 1922 from the Far Eastern re-
public in Siberia which is now a part
of the Soviet Russian government. The
Sinclair concession was recently held in
valid by courts of the first instance in
Russia.
Effort to Control u. s.
Examination Of the supplementary
conditions of that concession by govern
ment officials here. however, convinced
them that it was un9uestionably enter
ed Hec-by-sAe- Tar eastern republic for
the specific purpose of employing it as
a leverage to compel diplomatic recog-
nition of the Soviet Russian regime by
the United States.
The concession itself covered some
b,,n
provable oil lands in Northern Sakhal-
len. 1t was negotiated and ratified
during the period of Japanese military
occupation of that island and is an ex-
elusive concession so far as the defined
territory is concerned. In that respect,
it is similar to the concession since
granted to japanese interests, only of
more blanket character Coupled to
the Sinclair concession, however, are two
clauses which are regarded by high ad-
mnistratiOn officials as disclosing the
real purpose Of the Russian authorities
in granting the concession. The first
clause which occurs in the agreement it.
self. sets out that the far eastern re-
public retains the right to cancel the
concession during the first year. if
the government is convinced from any
acts or declarations of the government
of the United States of America that
the latter will not give support to the
company in its execution of the said
concession agreement"
U. s. Suspicious of Motive
The second clause occurs in the sup
Elemental agreement negotiated Jam
uary 7, 1922, and ratified by the Soviet
government on January 8, 1923. 1t also
reserves the right of the government to
annual the concession eff at the end ol
the fifth year after the date of signing
the supplemental agreement, there are
not established normal official relations
between the United States Of America
and the Far Eastern republics in the
form Of juridical recognition, (recogni-
tion de jur) of the government of the
United States of America"
1t is because of these stipulations
that the Washington government has
looked with suspicion on the motives of
the Sinclair concession ever since it OBJ
tanned copies of the agreement and the
supplemental agreement. Presentations
made in behalf of the concessionaire by
counsel are being considered in the
light of these stipulations.
In regard to the concession granted in
the Russo-Japanese agreement, it is
known that official scrutiny of the
treaty, which includes the concession
has not thus far disclosed any ground on
which it could be challenged as viola
tive of the open door principle.