Evening star., 1941-04-14
Treaty Stimulates
o-operation With
Japan, Soviet Says
Communist Press Sees Way
Cleared for Political,
Economic Collaboration
By the Associated Press.


by the Communist party press as
clearing the way for political and
economic cooperation - without,
however, binding Russia to the axis.
The pact, signed yesterday by
er-Foreign Commissar WA
cheslaff Molotoff and Japan's for
eign minister, Yosuke Matsuoka. was
regarded by observers as rivaling in
world Importance the non-aggres-
sion accord of 1899 between Ger
many and Russia which preceded
the invasion of Poland.
It fitted the general pattern of
expressed Soviet policy-peace and
neutrality in the midst of an ex-
panding war.
1t is the first political pact con-
cluded between the two countries
since the resumption of diplomatic
relations after the Bolshevist revo-
luton of 1917.
Pravda, Communist party organ,
said the pact and its accompany
ing declaration pledging respect of
the integrity of Manchukuo and
Outer Mongolia clear the way for
the regulation of other unsolved
questions between the U. S. S. r.
and Japan"
Outstanding Questions.
The major questions outstanding
between the two countries are:
l. A trade agreement which long
has been in negotiation.
2. A permanent agreement con-
cerning the rights and privileges of
Japan to fishing grounds in the Far
East, which also has long been in
negotiation.
g.. Demarcation of the frontiers of
Manchukuo and Mongolia over
which Japan and Russia fought
pitched battles in sporadic encount-
ers in the summers Of 1888 and 1889.
A joint commission has been at
work on this problem, too, for many
months:
Pravda reviewed the Far Eastern
developments since the Russian
Japanese war ended In 1905, includ-
ing the repeated border incidents,
and asserted some statesmen in
Japan tried to regard the Soviet
Union as an object of their aggres-
sive policy This was a great mis-
take because the U. S. S. R., while
carrying on peaceful policy, never
allowed and never will allow any,
body to dictate to it a policy against
its interests"
Prize of Matsuoka's.
The Easter Sunday accord, which
pledges each nation to remain neu-
trail in the event the other is made
"the object of hostilities on the part
of one or several third powers" was
the main prize of Matsuoka's three
week European tour to Moscow, Ber-
lin and Rome.
Matsuoka left for Toxic only a
short time after signing the pact
Joseph Stain saw him off, the first
time Stain ever has been known to
pay such J. tribute to, visiting
statesman. >.>..-
The treaty, valid for five years
pledges the two powers to respect
each others A<'territorial integrity
and inviolability.
1t was accompanied by declara-
ton specifying that Japan would
respect the borders of the Russian
dominated Outer Mongolian People,
Republic and the Soviet would dc
the same for, Japanese-sponsored
Manchukuo.
THE neutrality pact and declara-
ton published today" Pravda saic
In an earlier statement, "are docu.
ments of vast political significance
since they constitute an impor-
tant step for the improvement oi
relations between the U. S. S. r. and
Japan, whose governments are
guided in this case by desire to
strengthen peaceful and friendly re-
lations between the two countries
Tass Circulates Editorial,
Prayda's statement was made in
an editorial circulated by Tass
official Russian news agency.
1t said the declaration puts an
end to all petty frontier conflicts
Of the two.
THE Importance of the neutrality
pact is all the greater" Pravds
continued, since 1t was signed at
n moment when second imperialist
was continues spreading and in.
wolves more countries.
AT such a moment, normaliZation
and improvement of relations be-
tween the U. S. S. r. and Japan is
q very important step in the cause
of peace and fully conforms to the
Soviet Unions policy of peaceful
relations with all its neighbors and
other countries"
Furthermore, Pravda asserted, the
agreement paves the way for "set.
tlement of remaining outstanding is.
sues between the U. S. S. r. anc
Japan, including the fishing con,
vention and trade treaty"
Pravda added that now "all OBJ
stacles" were removed.
The agreement is all-embracing, II
continued, declaring that the two
countries will be good neighbors ane
not hinder each other in the realiza.
ton Of their historic tasks"
Follows 2 Other Pacts.
The new, pacts, following closely
similar treaties with Turkey anc
embattled Yugoslavia, was signed
for Russia by Premier and Foreign
Con1rnissar Vyacheslaff Molotoff ant
for Japan by Japanese Ambassado
Yoshitsugu Tatekawa and Matsuoka
whose departure for Toxic was de-
layed an hour and 40 minutes for tn
ceremony.
He had been in Moscow a week ne
gotiating the treaty. Shortly afte
he, left on the Siberian Ex
press, German Ambassador Coun
Friederich Werner Won der Schulen
burg and Slovak Minister Fran
Tiso left for consultations with thei
governments.
Even as Russia was completing tn
agreement, the press published
prominently a foreign office com
munique rebuking Hungary for in
vading Yugoslavia, 1t was reproo
similar to that sent Bulgaria severa
weeks ago for permitting Germal
L. l.