(Domei Translation)
Since August 25 more than a dozen floating mines have been found and picked up either in the Japanese territorial waters along the eastern shore of northern Korea or on the open sea in its neighbourhood.
On the early morning of September 1, a 60-ton Korean sailing-boat was destroyed by floating mines and five fishermen have become missing.
Floating mines, which were picked up by a fishing boat, exploded on September 10, as a result of which four fishermen were killed instantly. Those floating mines were identified as Soviet-made ones upon investigations, which further showed that more mines seem to be floating in great numbers.
The voyage of Japanese vessels during the night was prohibited in the sea of northern Korea and mines-sweeping operations are going on.
They seem to have laid off Vladivostok by Soviet hands in July this year and to have come floating subsequently. In fact the Soviet wireless-station at Vladivostok has warned that navigation in the Japan Sea is dangerous.
Despite repeated Japanese warnings, the Soviet Government has taken no adequate measures to meet probable dangers and as its consequence the dangerous situation as mentioned above actually arose.
The Imperial Government therefore has filed a most stern protest with the Soviet Government in connection with the outbreak of the accidents and the continuation of dangerous situation.
It is the most ardent desire of the Imperial Government to preserve peace and tranquillity in the Japan Sea. And for this purpose it is urgently needed to remove such dangers as soon as possible which are liable to sink vessels of Japan and third Powers by mines.