Evening star., 1932-02-26
SoUiet Links Toxic
With InUasion Plot;
Demands Explanation
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
MOSCOW, February 26-The Soviet
government, it was learned today, made
formal demand last Wednesday on
Koki Hirota. japanese Ambassador, for
an explanation of proposal of the
japanese command in Manchuria to
use the Chinese Eastern Railway, partly
Russian owned, for troop transporta-
ton, charging that "in reality the
troops were expected to be sent to the
Soviet border"
The request for an explanation was
made by L. M Karakhan, Soviet acting
commisSar for foreign affairs. 1t was
revealed today following the publica-
ton In Moscow newspapers Of reports
from the correspondent of the Tass
| (RuSsian) News Agency at Peiping that
white" Russian force was being re-
cruited in Northern Manchuria under
japanese auspices to invade Wadiyostok
and the Russian provinces Of Primor.
The dispatch to the TaSs agency from
Peiping was dated February %. two
days before Acting Comnlssar Karak-
hans request, although it was published
only yesterday.
Conversation Verbal.
M. Karakhan's conversation with the
japanese Ambassador was verbal. He
charged that the white" Russian
activities we're being carried on in
Manchuria under the protection and
with the direct support of the jap
anese." For this he also requested an
explanation from the japanese gov
ernment.
Raridas tL;s - -oiI To-... I'll.
tary authorities of Harbin proposed a
contract with the Chinese Eastern Rail-
way to transport regular troops at
reduction of so per cent of the ordinary
cost and to carry gratis japanese troops
sent to guard the railway. In addition,
he called for information about the
character of the newly formed Man
churian government.
The dispatch to the Tass agency
from Peiping also said that the Jap
aneSe Manchurian forces planned to
attack Trans-Baikal Province, the East
ern terminus of the Chinese Eastern
Railway, at the same time that the
white" Russian group was to invade
Primor Province.
Karakhan questioned Ambassador
Hirota on four points. First. he called
attention to the request of the Japanese
command at Hardin for II troop trains
to move soldiers from Imienpo to
Pogranichni. He said this request was
made under the pretext of defending
the lives of Japanese residents in the
latter CITY," but that it was mot usual.
bcause the troops were expected to be
sent to the Soviet border"
Explanation Demanded.
Such a matter" he said, "iS not
within the authority of the board of
the Chinese Eastern Railway, and the
Soviet government would like to know
If the request was made with knowledge
OF the Japanese government. If it was,
the Soviet government wants an ex-
PLANTATION
Secondly, Ambassador Hirota was
told the action of the japanese mill
tary command at Harbin in proposing
the contract for reduced rates and free
transportation of troops was "of a
political character and could not be
decided by the railway management
because the railway is a strictly COM
mercial enterprise"
The question is related" M. Kara
khan said, Ito the existing treaty be-
tween the Soviet Union and Japen on
the one side and the Soviet Union and
China on the other. The Soviet gov
ernment asks whether the japanese
government really knows about this
and requests an explanation"
Thirdly M Karakhan, requesting an
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