Evening star., 1938-08-04

1Dith MdnchnkuO ana Korea greD
out of incident July II in which
japanese resisted Russian effort to
occupy Changkuteng Hill. strategic
point on iH-defned frontier Neither
side has shonn disposition to
launch into open ,Ddr, and efforts
are being made for a diplomatic
settlement.
BY the Associated Press.
TOXIC, Aug. 4.-The Japanese gov
ernment today proposed to Soviet Rus
sia the cessation of hostilities on the
Siberian n-Manchukuoan border and
terms for settlement of their dispute.
The foreign office announced the
proposal was made by Kensuke Hori-
nouchi, Japanese vice minister OF
foreign affairs, in a two-hour confer
ence with Constantin Smetanin. Soviet
charge d'affaires. At the same time
the two nations exchanged stern pro-
tests over the border conflict.
The announcement said Horinouchi
offered Smetanin a settlement based
on "a broad view of the situation
Likely Terms Listed.
The terms were not announced, but
they were understood to include:
l. Japan to withdraw from the ter
ritory around Changfukeng Hill, near
the junction point of the Siberian,
Manchukuoan and Korean frontiers,
where fighting has been going on
sporadically since Sunday.
2. Russia not to attempt to re-
occupy the area.
g. A neutral zone to exist, pending
demarcation of the frontier by a
commission.
(The Journal de Moscou, which
speaks unoficially for the foreign
Office in Moscow, in an editorial
yesterday reported Russia's wiling
ness to seek commission settle
ment of frontier problems.
c'The Soviet Union agreed to a
new demarcation Of the frontier
and creation of mixed commissions
to regulate all disputable frontier
problems" it said. Japan, how
ever, rejected this peaceful pro-
posal of the government by max
ing her consent dependent upon
absurd conditions unacceptable to
the U. S. S. RI
Asks Moscow Be Informed.
Horinouchi requested the Soviet
Charge d'Affaires to inform Moscow
ST the terms Immediately.
1t was understood they were repre-
sented as terms which would be ac-
ceptable to both sides without loss Of
prestige.
The foreign Office statement said:
"Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs
Iiorinouchi invited Constantin Smet-
amin. Soviet Charge d'Affaries, to the
foreign office and made proposals for
the cessation of hostilities and re-
ouested Smetanin promptly to trans
nit the same to his home government
and obtain a reply thereto.
Although it is hard to foresee the
attitude the Soviet will take to these
reasonable proposals, all we can say is
that whether these proposals, based on
broad view of the situation, will ma
terialize will depend on the attitude
of the Soviet government"
Ownership Is Issue.
The issue which the peace-seeking
move is designed to settle is the
ownership of the region around
Changkufeng Hill. which Soviet Rus
slams began fortifying July II.
The Soviet government claims the
zone is within her territory; Japan
says it is in Manchukuo.
(Moscow newspapers yesterday
published reproductions Of map
appended to the Soviet-Chinese
agreement of June rs, 1886, as
Soviet proof that the disputed area
lay within Siberian territory)
Heavy fighting broke out Sunday,
when the japanese said they had
seized the hill, and a new engage
ment was reported today. Both gov
ernments have protested, each charg-
ing aggression on the part of the
other.
Accusation Repudiated.
To the latest Soviet protest Domei
Japanese news agency said Hor-
inouchi replied by repudiating the &C
cusations and itemizing numerous
allegedly illicit Soviet actions and
declaring responsibility for the fight
ing, which began Sunday after re-
peated charges and counter charges Of
border violations the past month in
the Changkufeng Hill region, was en-
tlrely RuSsia's.
The Russians sent four battalions
against Changkufeng and Shachofeng
(See FAR EAST, Page A-4)