A Lost Cause

After the signing of the recent Russo-Japanese Treaty (TIME, Feb. 2), the Bolshevik Government was obliged to cancel the oil concession granted to Harry F. Sinclair on the island of Saghalin. This they did legally through the Moscow District Court (TIME, Apr. 6). Mr. Sinclair subsequently announced his intention of appealing to the Bolshevik Supreme Court.

Last week, the case was heard. The

Sinclair Co. argued that the District Court's ruling was contrary to Bolshevik law and to the terms of the concession agreement. The crux of the defense was that a longer time should have been granted to the Company to carry out its contract. The Supreme Court thought otherwise. Mr. Sinclair, as foreseen, lost his case.