Evening star., 1941-07-04
Japan May Bar
Routes 10 j. ).
Aid for Russia
Territorial Waters
Extension in Two
Straits Considered
F.. the Associated Press.

TOXIC. July 4.-The Japanese
government is giving serious con-
sideration to the possibility that the
United States may send aid to Soviet
Russia via the Pacific port of Vladi-
vostok an official spokesman indi-
Gated today.
In press conference discussion of
the Vladivostok situation, Koh Ishii,
the cabinet spokesman, said the gov
ernment had been discussing the
question of an extension of the limits
of Japan's territorial waters beyond
the internationally recognized g.
mile zone.
Press discussions of this question
recently have indicated that Japan
might take some action to close two
narrow straits between japanese
Islands by which ships from the
Pacific normally reach Vladivostok.
Question Not Decided"
A German correspondent asked
Ishii:
Has the japanese government
discussed this step regarding the
waters surrounding Vladivostok?
of course" Ishii replied, but the
question has not been decided"
Newspaper discussion has CEN
tered on the Soya Strait, between
Hokkaido and Sakhalin, only Is
miles wide, and the still narrower
Tsugaru Strait, between Hokkaido
and Hondo, the main japanese
island.
tThe implication is that Japan
might declare her territorial
waters extended far enough to
cover entirely these narrow
passages and bar alien ships
from them. During the prohi-
bltlon era the United States ex-
tended her territorial waters to
II miles to facilitate the fight
against rum-runners.
tVladivostak is on the Sea of
Japan, which Is almost entirely
inclosed by huge arc of Jap
anese islands.
"Unfriendly Act" Seen.
1shii was asked how Japan would
regard the possible stationing of
United States planes at Vladivostok.
This, the spokesman replied. Japan
would consider IAN unfriendly act"
as she already regards the sending
OF United States-made planes to
British Singapore, Batavia, in the
Netherlands Indies and Chunking
China's capital.
The Japanese press has been re-
ferrlng to recent United States
moves in this region as a blockade
OF Japan and "encirclement."
Ishil was asked whether the gov
ernment's decision concerning the
Russian-German war was to re-
main neutral.
My mouth is sealed" he replied.
The government declared Wednes-
day it had adopted a policy, but did
not disclose its nature.
The spokesman said, however,
that Foreign Minister Matsuoka had
communicated this decision fully
to Soviet Ambassador Constanin
Smetanin. The two conferred We'd
nesday.
The next day it was disclosed that
100 Russian women and children
from Soviet Embassy families were
preparing to leave for home almost
Immediately. (Tokios decision also
was communicated fully to German
Ambassador Gen. Eugen OFT and
Berlin spokesmen yesterday pro-
fessed to be pleased with it,
Some Ships Recalled.
The cabinets Information Board
said some japanese ships, especially
on long foreign routes, had been re-
called for services nearer home. 1t
added, however, that this was due
entirely to the shortage of shipping
space on routes nearer Japan.
Rumors circulated abroad, linking
this with possible new japanese
military or political action, were de-
clared groundless.
The post office announced the
withdrawal of one ship from the
Yokohama-New York run and a
postponement of the sailing of an
other.
Emperor Hirohito today received
in audience Foreign Minister Matsu-
Okla and War Minister Gen. Eiki
TOTO, presumably to hear reports on
the diplomatic and military situa-
tiOn, especially in connection with
the Russian-German war and it's
effects on Japan.