The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-03-20
INNOCENT JAPS
ARE MISTREATED
United States Makes Request
of Russia
REFUGEES ARE IN SIBERIA
Minister Takahira Makes Statement to
Show That Russian7 Have Mis-
treated Helpless Persons
Since Hostlities Began.
REFUGEES ARE IN SIBERIA

Washington March 19-Russa will be
asked by the United States on behalf of
with Russia, to treat kindly Japanese
non-combatants, who have been left in
Siberia, and to enable them to make their
way back to Japan. The Japanese min
lister called at the state department to-
day and informed the officers they had
received reports that between forty and
fifty -combatants were in a suffering
condition in several Siberian towns. The
minister requested the Washington gov
ernment to use its good offices to assist
tse suffering Japapese TO reach Berlin
them In charge. The state department.
acted promptly, and a cablegram was
sent to Ambassador Mccormack at st.
Petersburg inviting him to call the atten-
ton of the Russian government to the
request in the confident hope that Rus
sian officers will take steps for the re-
lief of the japanese.
To a correspondent of the Associated
Press. Minister Takahira said:
akdnlFd MAKES 0tdtemenL.
81 made this request because of tele-
gram reporting that two Japanese sub
ieets who arrived at Berlin 2 few days
ago from the interior of Siberia as dele
gates from a large number of japanese
still living there, reported to the Japa-
nese ambassador at Berlin that they were
boycotted and not only had they found
it impossible to earn any living, but they
were in constant danger of life and con-
sequently were suffering great privations.
In some towns it was said they were or
dered by the police to leave at a mo-
ments notice without time to take their
effects with them. We have therefore
decided to have them sent to Japan.
at is not unnatural that in time of war
there exists between the people of bellig-
erents, a degree of enmity but In my
opinion it is notable feature of the
present conflict that since its outbreak
the Russians have acted in an untoward
manner with the non-combatants and
prisoners of our people. The Vladivos-
took squadron fired on Japanese mer-
chantmen and sank one of them. A
japanese major and five soldiers who
were taken prisoners in Korea, were
paraded through the streets of Mukden.
japanese citizens in Manchurla, many of
them women, are subjected to indignties
while on their way to a seaport to find
a steamer to take them to Japan. This
report from Berlin tells of the cruel
treatment of innocent people by the police
of Siberia.
Are Treated Very Differently.
Just think how Russians are treated in
Japan? You never hear any complaint
by them against the Japanese. On the
contrary it was reported from Chemu.po
that when the bodies of two Russian sd.!-
ors were recovered from the wreck Of the
cruiser Variag, the sailors Of japanese
men-of-war buried them with military
honors, and many residents of the Japa-
nese towns at Chemulpo went TO tasir
graves to bow out of respect for their hon
orabe death.
II do not mean to expect Of the coun-
try and people at war with us anything
unusual, but 1 sincerely hope that tcy
will show at least some moderation in the
treatment CT those innocent, unfortunate
sufferers, not only for their sake, hut
for the sake of the good name of that
great empire as one of the civilized soun-
iris"