1.
GV EXT JAPANESE FOREIGN MINISTRY.
0.05

2.
SV INT RUSSIAN DELEGATION ARRIVES.
0.10

3.
GV JAPANESE AND SOVIET DELEGATES SEATED AT TABLE.
0.15

4.
MV MR. MIGUNOV SEATED.
0.19

5.
SV MEMBERS OF RUSSIAN DELEGATION SEATED.
0.22

6.
SV MR. TAKEO KATO SEATED.
0.25

7.
MV DELEGATES SEATED.
0.28

8.
SV MR KATO SHAKES HANDS WITH MR. MIGUNOV ACROSS TABLE.
0.35

9.
GV CONFERENCE ROOM.
0.40



Initials DS/S/CR/BB



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: A LONG RANGE PLAN FOR THE JOINT DEVELOPMENT OF SIBERIA BY THE SOVIET UNION AND JAPAN IS BEING DISCUSSED AT TALKS BETWEEN TOP TRADE OFFICIALS OF BOTH NATIONS, WHICH OPENED IN TOKYO ON MONDAY, (DECEMBER 25).

THE TALKS, BEING HELD IN THE FOREIGN MINISTRY BUILDING, ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE UNTIL THE END OF JANUARY 1964, AND WILL INCLUDE THE FRAMING OF AN AGREEMENT FOR BILATERAL TRADE FOR THE NEXT TWELVE MONTHS.

MAIN ITEM ON THE AGENDA WILL BE A SOVIET PROPOSAL THAT THE GIANT JAPANESE INDUSTRIAL COMBINES OF MITSUBISHI AND MITSUI, PARTICIPATE IN THE LONG TERM ECONOMIC PLAN FOR SIBERIA.MITSUI AND MITSUBISHI HAVE ALREADY ESTABLISHED INDUSTRIAL CONCERNS IN CO-OPERATION WITH NATIONAL GOVERNMENTS IN SOUTH AMERICA AND SOUTH-EAST ASIA.

ANOTHER ISSUE LIKELY TO PRODUCE LENGTHY DISCUSSION IS THE SUSPENSION OF DELIVERY OF JAPANESE STEEL PIPES FOR THE TRANS-SIBERIAN OIL PIPELINE.JAPANESE STEEL MANUFACTURERS CURRENTLY FACING OVER PRODUCTION BLAME AMERICAN PRESSURE ON THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT FOR THE HOLD-UP.