Show JAPAN HAS s MADE MADEI I TALK TO FRANCE FRANCEN Neutrality N Question Has Been Brought to an Issue ACCUSED OF AIDING ENEMY STILL IN FRENCH WATERS 4 Paris April 20 t 20 p in m Dr Ur 4 4 Mont Montono ono the Japanese mini tei 4 4 caned called on Foreign Minister Del 4 4 caste casse evening concerning th 4 I 4 neutrality question 4 4 I ARIS April ADrIL 20 on PARIS P Holts front from his government Dr Motono the Japanese minister to toI France Frasce I ra ce called o oti on Foreign Minister this thie evening ev and d representations on on behalf of tf Japan eon con on onN erflIng N the presence of the Ru nU sf n 1 Pacific c squadron in ba bay An official communication issued d aft r the meeting states tes that Minister Motono action had not the th character of a formal for formal mal DIMI protest against a an alleged all fd u I i hot of but was to obtain that Hutt France would observe strict neutrality the o Version it 11 is II evident that the intention and nd iid pf ef f lei t of Mr oIl Motono mission is in ill the a tUI of a protest t Foreign I n lIin Minister r nel to the representations ions t of the Japanese e minister by point pointing log ing out the precautions that had been taken to i neutrality and the thel l 1 ecial lal instructions recently sent to the governor vernOl general of or IndoChina urging urging ing continued care to preserve neutral neutrality 1 ity it N tL t S assurances sought to allay the apprehensions of Japan which he maintained had not been jus justified I by any ny specific sped c acts ads Gave Ample Assurances The exact terms of Japans lepre n have ave not been disclosed dl but it is 18 understood that while having the theu u usual ual courteous form of diplomacy they set forth that serious apprehensions had been aroused by the stay of or orthe the Russian warships in bay and the earnest e ne t desire le that French lIeu neu neutrality be plated placed beyond doubt The Tb terms of the French FrE response se ser r not given out tend to give glye ample assurances on all au the raised The rite t text of the official com coin communication communication on ott the conference is as fol follows follows lows Iowa Official Statement Dr Motono minister of Japan has lisa taken steps to call the attention of the minister of foreign for ign affairs to the re reported reported reported ported presence pretence of Ru Russian sian vessels in bay At the ministry of foreign forel n affairs it is said that Minister M S action a tion does not take the c ter of a K formal forn l protest against alleged violation of or neutrality by bJ France relative to the Russian Ru fleet t 1 The Fhe Japanese particularly desired to yr obtain ob from the th French government a been done when the Ule Baltic squadron passed la l Cherbourg and more I I recently when it sojourned off Mada Madagascar Madagascar gascar some formal assurance that France would continue to observe o strict neutrality These Th assurances evidently seemed more and more Inore india indis l lf u ble to Japan Tapan as us O the Russian fleet approached the Ute const coast of IndoChina and entered the theatre of war ar arAll All Precautions Taken The French government has on ftc fre frequent quent occasions occa pointedly shinned d that fi all precautions pre have hav been taken for the observance ob of neutrality Special in instructions have ve even eyen been forwarded to IndoChina on the subject The TheA A minister of foreign affairs is itc there therefore therefore fore able to allay the uneasiness Ja Japan Japan Japan pan has haK manifested which has not been justified up to the present resent by any specific act I Besides Be these the e general assurances aSil rances the conference doubtless permitted of the I explanation of the French point of or view concerning the Ule stay of Russian war warship ar ships ship in bay It is main maintained maintained tamed that this was at most a t brief sojourn and not a prolonged stay tay of official official tidal information leading to the Ute belief belie that the squadron actually left Kam ranh bay last Sunday p Japanese g ships were In the tite vicinity during the stay of ol the Russian squadron and therefore it is i held it lisa has not the character of or giving asylum to a bel bei belligerent belligerent against the attack of an enemy enem Bay Is Large Moreover it is 18 maintained main the Mae liKe of oC bay permits ships to en enter enter entee ter tee and anchor without being in French territorial waters aten The bay ba has nas a tri Ui triangular trIangular angular shape its greatest length be being being ing big sixteen and miles its greatest width ten teu miles and the dis die distance tance tane across the entrance about eight miles mUes These b dimensions permit of yes ves vessels sels entering and mooring without crowing ero lug the threemile French shore j p limit From the French standpoint it itis is iii not to be presumed that ships are within French waters until it is af affirmatively I established hed that the three threemile threemile mile flute limit has been encroached en upon Furthermore officials say B that France had no previous knowledge that the Russian Ru second Pacific squadron in intended intended tended going to I bay and therefore had no opportunity to fore foresee foresee foresee see or guard against the visit Germans Supplied Coal I Concerning the course co of the Russian warships warship in hI taking on store stores it is III maintained that these were not con contraband I of oC war but were necessary provisions suh such as af merchantmen may supply at their own peril It is pointed I out in this connection Uon that the chief article arU le of contraband namely coal had bad been een furnished to the Russian squadron by German ships shins which took un n fl their cargoes from rom the British port of nf f Cardiff presumably for other ties des destinations I It remains r for Cor Tokio to which the French reply was sent ent tonight ht to say y whether the assurances a are ale considered sufficient The opinion prevails here that Mv Mi M answer is of or a na as nature nature ture to avert serious complications However Hoever the attitude of socialist t deputies deputies deputies ties promises eSl to bring up the entire question before the ht t chamber of oC depp deputies I ties tI I The te socialist t movement follows the general sentiment in socialist quarters quarter 1 against again t the lan alliance The rhe appearance of the question que a as a apolitical apolitical i political issue in parliament leads to the feeling in some seine quarters that Ro I presence In e waters aters water constitutes a k considerable men menace menace ace to France and may operate opera te to weaken the Ule bonds between Russia and France I Conflicting Reports p O Considerable conflict exists between the press and official ad advices vices Iee concerning co the w whereabouts hereabouts of the Continued on Page 2 JAPAN HAS MADE TALK TO FRANCE FRA Continued from Crom Page 1 Russian squadron but the officials are positive that the squadron has outside of or the French waters since last Sunday Sunda Its present whereabouts is not known but if the squadron S Is 18 In or near bay the government is as assured a assured that th t the locality lity Is outside French territorial limits |