The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-03-20
AMERICA WILL ASK
RUSSIA TO TREAT JAPANESE
N0NC0MBATANTS KINDLY.

" stSSiilllBlo loI, hdTCH I5--fNuSSld VIII DC
asked by the United States to treat kindly
the japanese noncombatants who have
been left in Siberia, and TO enable them
to make their way back to Japan.
Mr.. Kogoro Takahira, the Japanese Min
lister, called at the State Department to-
day and informed the officials that he had
received reports that between forty and
fifty japanese noncombatants were in a
suffering condition in several Siberian
towns.
The Minister requested the Washington
Government to use its good offices to as
sist the suffering japanese to reach Ber-
lin, where the Japanese Minister will take
them in charge.
The State Department acted promptly
and cablegram has been sent TO Mr. Nc
Ccrmick, the American Ambassador at st.
Petersburg. inviting him to call the at
tention of the Imperial Government to the
matter in the confident hope that Rus
sian officials will take immediate steps for
the relief of the Japanese
MINISTER TELLS WHY
HE MADE APPEAL.
To correspondent of the Associated
Press Mr.. Takahira said:
1 was not at the State Department YES
terday, nor at Secretary Hays residence
but L was at the department to-day and
handed Mr.. Loomis. the Assistant Secre-
tary of State, a note requesting the Uni
ted States Government to use its good Of
fees to see that the Japanese residents in
Siberia who are destitute and desire 10
return home shall be sent to Berlin. where
my colleague there will take charge of
them
made this request because of a tele-
gram received here reporting that two
Japanese subjects who arrived at Ber-
lin few days ago from the interior of
Siberia as delegates from a large number
OF Japanese still living there, reported TO
the Japanese Minister there that they
were boycotted and not only had they
found it impossible 20 earnsa living, but
were in constant danger of life and con-
sequently were suffering great privation.
In some towns it was said they were
ordered by the police authorities to leave
the place at a moments notice without
time to take their effects with them. We
have, therefore, decided to have them sent
to Japan.
II is not unnatural that in time Of war
there exists between the people of bel
ligerents degree of enmity, but in my
opinion it is notable feature of the pres
ent conflict that, since its outbreak, the
Russians have acted in an untoward man
ner with the noncombatants and prisoners
of our people.
ENUAIERATES THE WRONGS
SUFFERED BY HIS PEOPLE.
THE Vladivostok squadron fired upon
japanese merchantmen and sunk one of
them.
"A Japakese Major and five soldiers
who were taken prisoners in Korea were
paraded through the streets OF Mukden.
japanese residents in Manchuria,
many of whom were women, were sub
jected to indignities while on their way
to 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 authorities of Siberia
Just think how Russians are treated
in Japan! You never hear any complaint
by them against the Japanese authori-
ties and people.
"on the contrary, it was reported from
Chemulpo that when the bodies of two
Russian sailors were recovered from the
wreck of the Varig. the sailors of Japan's
men-of-war buried them with military
honors. and many residents OF the Jap
anese town at the port went to their
graves out Of respect for their honorable
death.
Il do not mean to expect of the country
and people at war with US anything nm
usual, but / sincerely hope that they will
show least some moderation in the
treatment of those innocent but unfortu-
nate sufferers, not only for their sake.
but for the sake of the good name of
that great Empire as one of the civilized
countries"
The Minister spoke earnestly. but with
out excitement