TOKYO CONSIDERS AID TO DISPUTED ISLANDS.

Japan is seriously considering a request for economic aid from the local administration of the cash-strapped southern Kuril Islands, Japanese Foreign Ministry sources indicated earlier today. The issue was discussed during an unprecedented visit this week to the disputed islands by Japanese deputy foreign minister Minoru Tamba. The Japanese diplomat is to be the only adviser who will accompany Japanese prime minister Ryutaro Hashimoto during his November 1-2 meeting with President Boris Yeltsin in Krasnoyarsk. The dire economic situation on the Russian-controlled islands will reportedly be discussed during those talks. (Kyodo, Itar-Tass, October 2)

Moscow Denies Arms Sale to Taiwan.