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domestic disturbance in Siberia. The inhabitants appear to be very much dissatisfied with Soviet rule because under the former imperial regime and even during the Japanese occupation, their taxes were comparatively low and there was no tax on hunting and fishing. Now, the peasants are taxed on the amount of land that is under their control irrespective of the amount of crops they raise. If the tax is not forthcoming their domestic animals and other basic equipment are seized. They are also taxed on fish-ing and hunting so severely that they cannot pay it. This led to a general exodus to the Manchurian side of the Amor River during the last Spring. Subsequently, many of them returned to Siberia and numbers were shot by the Soviet as a disciplinary measure to make them understand that they could not abandon their holdings and expect to return to them in the future. Because by abandon-ing their farms they cut down the available amount of taxes for the Soviet regime. I believe that the fact is being understood gradually in Siberia that the right of proprietorship and a fair taxation must be adopted, otherwise the Soviet rule cannot continue. Everything in eastern Siberia, except possible the fishing interests, now con-trolled by the Japanese along Kanchatka, is a very bad muddle.

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