INTERNATIONAL GLEANINGS FROM JAPAN APRIL 15, 1939 No. 4. Published by CONTENTS Page The International Association of Japan Statement of the Foreign Office Spokesman Concerning the 12, NICHOME, MAKUNOUCHI, TOKYO Agreement on Cultural Co-operation Between Japan & Italy 1 Telephone: Marunouchi (23) 4664, 4935 Agreement on Cultural Co-operation Between JapanItaly 1 Statement of the Foreign Office Information Bureau Con­ cerning the Negotiations on the Fishery Question Be­ Patron Treasurers tween Japan and the Soviet Union .................................... 2 Prince Iyesato Tokugawa Mr. Juichi Tsushima Statement of the Foreign Office Concerning the Admini­ Mr. Shozo Shimasue Honorary President strative Jurisdiction Over Shinnan Gunto ......................... 3 Baron Yoshiro Sakatani Secretary-General Statement of the Foreign Office Spokesman Regarding the Mr. Sukeyuki Akamatsu Fishery Negotiation Between Japan and the Soviet Union 3 President Statement of the Foreign Office Spokesman Concerning British Viscount Kikujiro Ishii INTERNATIONAL 1 Assistance for the Stabilization of the Chinese Currency 4 Vice-Presidents GLEANINGS FROM JAPAN i On the Departure of the U.S.S. Astoria........................... 4 Dr. Tadao Yamakawa Editor ; News of the International Association .................................... 6 Mr. Chokyuro Kadono Mr. Sukeyuki Akamatsu i Chronicle—March, 1939 ............................................................... 6 statement of the foreign office undertakings for their cultural exchange are growT- spokesman concerning the agree­ ing too numerous to mention. In view of Japan’s ment ON cultural co-operation important cultural mission of contributing toward the BETWEEN JAPAN AND ITALY cultural progress of the world through the creation ft of a new unified culture in East Asia we find the March 23, 1939. conclusion of the present agreement especially signi­ It is a matter for hearty congratulation that the ficant, providing as it does a firm basis for cultural cultural agreement between Japan and Italy, for the co-operation between the two countries and the con­ conclusion of which negotiations have, been going on solidation of their spiritual union. It gives an oppor­ in Tokyo between the representatives of both coun­ tunity to demonstrate fully our culture, while absorb­ tries since the end of last year, has today been for­ ing at the same time the best in Italian culture. mally signed and gone into effect. The present agreement is similar to the Japanese- At the time of the conclusion of the Japanese-Ger­ German cultural agreement in that, while providing man Cultural Agreement, the Japanese Government a basic policy for the cultural co-operation between declared that they would co-operate in cultural under­ the two countries, it leaves concrete matters to be de­ takings with those foreign countries which are in termined by consultation between the competent au­ friendly relationship with Japan through a bilateral thorities of both countries as the occasion demands agreement based on the principle of reciprocity, and and to be put into practice freely and appropriately. not througji the League of Nations. It is quite na­ tural that, following the conclusion of such a cultural agreement with Germany, Japan should have entered AGREEMENT ON CULTURAL CO-OPERATION into a similar agreement with Italy, with which our BETWEEN JAPAN AND ITALY country has long enjoyed intimate cultural relations The Japanese Government and in the fields of arts and sciences. The fact that the The Italian Government, cultural intercourse between the Japanese and Ita­ Equally animated by a desire to deepen the mutual lian peoples will by virtue of the present agreement understanding of both countries and to strengthen grow further in intimacy and that the two nations more and more the bonds of friendship and mutual will further deepen their knowledge and understand­ confidence so happily connecting them already, by ing of each other will in no small measure contribute mutually respecting their intrinsic cultures based on toward the promotion of understanding and amicable their time-honoured traditions and by promoting relationship between the two countries which has their manifold cultural relations, grown exceptionally cordial under the anti-Comiritern Have agreed upon the following Articles: agreement. Of late, admiration in various countries abroad for Article I. Japanese culture has been increasing. At the same The High Contracting States shall strive to put time the interest of Japan and Italy for the study their cultural relations on a firm foundation and of each other’s culture is particularly keen, and the shall most closely collaborate in these regards. INTERNATIONAL GLEANINGS FROM JAPAN Article II. lines to persuade the Soviet to reach an amicable solu­ In order to attain the aim set forth in the preceding tion while maintaining a resolute attitude for the Article, the High Contracting States shall ever pro­ preservation of our treaty rights. As a result a satis­ mote their cultural relations through the instrumen­ factory agreement has been reached. tality of science and art, music and literature, stage At the interviews held after March 8th, Ambassa­ and screen, photography and radio, youth-movements dor Togo refuted the Soviet argument which said it and sports, etc. was unreasonable for Japan to demand substitute Article III. fishery lots for exempted fishery lots, and he strongly The competent authorities of the High Contracting expressed the Japanese contention regarding the States shall decide by mutual agreement the detailed stabilized fishery lots. At the same time he endeav­ measures necessary for the execution of the stipula­ oured to persuade the Soviet, to postpone the auction tions of the preceding Article. scheduled for March 15th, urging the Soviet side to reconsider and stated that the serious responsibility Article IV. should be borne by the Soviet Government for the The present Agreement shall enter into force on the situation which might arise as a result of its insistent- day of its signature. It shall expire twelve months unilateral contentions. after one of the High Contracting States shall have On March 15th, the Soviet carried out the auction denounced it. as previously planned and, although the fishery lots In witness whereof, the Undersigned, duly author­ which the Japanese had hitherto operated were not ized by their respective Governments, have signed the affected as a whole, it successfully bid for four of the present Agreement and affixed hereunto their seals. stabilized lots hitherto operated by the Japanese as Done in duplicate, in Japanese and Italian original well as six fishery lots which the Soviet Government texts, at Tokyo, the 23rd of March, 1939, i.e., the 23rd had proposed to place on auction as substitutes for day of the 3rd month of the 14th year of Sydwa- the fishery lots which it had previously proposed to Period, corresponding to the 23rd day of the 3rd exempt from the operation by Japanese nationals. month of the 17th year of Fascist-Period. Against this the Japanese Embassy at Moscow lodged (L.S.) Hachiro Arita. a vigorous protest in official Note dated the 19th, (L.S.) Giacinto Auriti. stating that Japan refused to accept the effect of the auction. The negotiations were continued which substantial­ STATEMENT OF THE FOREIGN OFFICE IN­ ly came to a close by the end of March. The negotia­ FORMATION BUREAU CONCERNING THE tions were then shifted to the question of what form NEGOTIATIONS ON THE FISHERY of document should be adopted to incorporate the QUESTION BETWEEN JAPAN points agreed upon. At midnight on the second of AND THE SOVIET UNION April the negotiations on the fishery question came April 4, 1939. to a satisfactory conclusion, and the Japanese parti­ 1. The Japanese-Soviet negotiations regarding the cipated in the auction held at Vladivostok on April 4. question of fishing in the northern waters came to a 2. The results of the agreement may be summariz­ satisfactory conclusion on April 2 and a modus vivendi ed as follows: was signed at midnight of the same day by Ambassa­ (a) The Fishery Convention of 1928 remains in dor Togo and Foreign Commissar Litvinoff. The force until the end of this year. following is an outline of the progress of negotiations (b) The contract for the special contract fishery conducted after the announcement at the end of Fe­ lots is extended another year with the exception of bruary this year up to the time of the conclusion of four exempted lots, concerning which mention will the agreement. be made later. Since March Ambassador Togo negotiated nine (c) As to stabilized fishery lots they are placed on times with Foreign Commissar Litvinoff, namely, on auction with the exception of the exempted lots of the Sth, 11th, 14th, 22nd, 26th, 28th and 31st of which mention will be made later, but March and 1st and 2nd of April; and in the mean­ (A) The definite prospect is that Japanese fishing time Counsellor Nishi negotiated from time to time interests will acquire them. with Assistant Chief of the Far Eastern Bureau (B) These acquired lots will be under lease for Tsarabukin. five years. Some of these interviews lasted for several hours (C) The rent is not to be raised more than ten with heated arguments, and more than once there per cent. was the danger of rupture. The Japanese side, how­ (D) The four lots which were successfully bidden ever, has consistently endeavoured along reasonable by the Soviet side on March 15th are to be returned INTERNATIONAL GLEANINGS FROM JAPAN to the Japanese. give rise to unnecessary disputes with France. Ac­ (ci) The exempted fishery lots: cordingly, the Japanese Government, in order to eli­ Thirty-seven fishery lots consisting of thirty-two minate such inconveniences and disadvantages, have of the stabilized lots, four of the special lots, decided to place the reefs under the jurisdiction of and one of the lots under lease are exempted the Government-General of Taiwan, and having pub­ from auction as exceptions to Article 8 of the lished the fact under date of March 30, 1939, the Vice- Protocol A of the Fishery Convention.