Soviet Recognition?

The diplomatic conversations (in Tokyo) between Toshihiko Kawakami, delegate of the Japanese Government, and Adolf A. Joffe, Soviet Envoy from Moscow, for the recognition of the Russian Union of Socialist Soviet Republics by Japan, are not proceeding without a good deal of difficulty.

The parleys are taking place in the bedroom of Joffe, who is sick. He remarked: " The only reason I don't walk out is that I cannot walk."

A spokesman for Joffe said: " The only difference (between the present conference and the recent futile Russo-Japanese conference at Chang-chung) is that the Japanese seem to be more sincere in their effort to reach an agreement."

The main difficulty at present is over the Japanese insistence on an indemnity for the murder of Japanese at Nikolaievsk in Russia, which they desire to be considered conjointly with the Soviet demand for Japanese evacuation of the Northern part of the island of Sakhalin.