Evening star., 1941-09-06
u. !. Officials Watch
For japanese Move
To Block VIadivostok
Safety Zone Decree
Thought Possible as
Second Tunker Docks
BY LLOYD LEHRBAS,
Associated Press STAFF Writer.

American officials watched the
North Pacific today for any sign
that Japan-after falling to stop
the first two American tankers car
rying oil for Soviet Russia-would
attempt to blockade Vladivostok by
declaring a safety zone" across the
sea lanes between the chain of Jap
anese Islands which almost encircle
the Siberian port.
International law authorities said
that aside from involving the ira
ditional American policy Of freedom
of the seas, any such action by ia
pan might be interpreted by Soviet
Russia as q violation of the treaty
of Portsmouth, which ended the
RuSso-Japanese War on September
8, 1905.
On reply to Japanese repre-
sentations against the oil ship
ments, the Soviet Union has al
ready informed Toxic that any
attempt to interfere with trade
between the United States and
the Soviet would be considered
an unfriendly act0
Japan Missed Chance.
II the japanese intended to take
any action to prevent American oil
deliveries TO Russia, it was said,
they missed the boat at the very
start by falling to intercept the
tanker L. P. st. Clair, laden with
95 900 barrels of high octane gas
oline, whiclf docked at VladivoStok
Thursday.
A second American tanker, the
Associated, was reported TO haYe
arrived at Vladivostok yesterday
with a cargo of aviation gasoline.
Still another tanker was said to
be due in the Russian port tomor-
row or Monday, but in view of the
precedent set in the cases of the
L. P. st. Clair and the Associated,
diplomatic quarters here believed no
effort would be made to intercept
the third vessel.
Although the State Department
never has confirmed that Japan
had lodged representations against
the oil shipments, it is conceded
that Admiral Kichisaburo Nomura,
the Japanese Ambassador, probably
mentioned the question in talks with
Secretary Hull.
II the question was raised, 1t
was said in informed quarters, Sec
retary Hull in all probability in
formed the Ambassador that the
United States still maintains the
policy of freedom Of the seas and
that any interference with Amer
lean shipping would be considered
on that basis.
Consider Safety Zone
AS an alternative method Of stop
ping shipments Of war supplies to
the Soviet, the Japanese cabinet
Is reported to be considering a pro-
posal to close the waters around
Japan by declaring a safety zone"
through which foreign vessels
would be allowed TO pass only by
Japanese permission.
The safety zone" proposal was
modelled, it was reported, on the 12-
mile zone around the United States
in prohibition days designed to pre-
vent rum-runners from landing car
gos on contraband liquor, and the
inter American "safety-Zone" drawn
to prevent belligerent action in
waters near the American conti-
nents.
International law authorities re-
ported that the Russo-Japanese
treaty of 1905 contains a provision
which should guarantee freedom OF
passage to Vladivostok through one
Of the major sea routes between the
United States and Siberia.
In article of the treaty, they re-
ported, Russia ceded the southern
half of the Island of Saghalien to
Japan with the understanding that
neither Russia or Japan would take
any military measures which may
f impede the free navigation of the
} straits OF La Perouse and Tartary."
Two Straits Give Access.
La Perouse is the strait between
the Japanese island Of HokkaidC
and Karafuto (the Japanese name
/ for the southern half of Saghalien
through which many ships pass er
route from Russian Kamchatka anG
America to Vladivostok.
The "Tartary" referred to is the
, Gulf Of Tartary, the northern arm
I of the Sea of Japan, which separates
e Saghalien from the Siberian main
land.
, Ships taking the great circle route
touching the Bering Sea and pass
ing through the Straits of La Pc
, rouse save approximately 100 miles
between American ports and vladi-
vostok, over the more southern route
through the Tsuguru Straits which
, separate the Japanese islands OF
: Hokkaido and Honeshu.