The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-01-09

UNDERSTANDINGS 5 BROAD
Russo-Japanese Treaty Con-
tains Provisions Un-
known to Public.

sociated Press. h-According to infor-
nation through Russian sources, the
recent rapprochement between Russia
and Japan il likely to have more
far. reaching effect than is shown in
the formal treaty signed at Toxic and
made public. The formal treaty had a
plant0nic assurance that neither coun-
try will attack the other, and in case
Of difference both countries will con-
suit with view to adjustment. But
Russian officials who were In Japan
at the time OF the negotiations. and are
now here en- route homeward. say GER
tain collateral agreements made in
conjunction with the treaty, give 1t a
real and practical bearing and are
really more important than the treaty
itself
One Of these collateral features as
described by the Russian officials. is
the withdrawal of Japanese troops sta
toned as guard in Central and West
ern Manchuria The presence of
these troops, while not an aggressive
move has been considered a sufficient
menace to require the presence of a
like Russian force in Eastern Siberia,
along the border of Manchuria. The
withdrawal OF the Japanese troops is
said to be of great advantage to Rus
STA, as it now permits the large force
OF Russian soldiers, hitherto held in
active. to be transferred to the western
fighting front. This feature, which is
not expressed in the treaty. is said to
he one Of the chief corrollaries from
the formal agreement not to attack
each other.
Other features agreed upon are said
to be in extension and development of
the terms Japan received under the
treaty of Portsmouth. Following that
treaty the great trunk railway running
north from Port Arthur and Dalney
through southern Manchuria passed
under japanese control. This con-
troll is now to be further extended
northward, from Shangtung to Hardin,
this giving Japan authority over prac-
tically all of the great trunk lines
through Manchuria.
Another extension of Japan's com
mercal authority will be on the Sun
Gari river, one of the great branches
OF the Amur, heretofore restricted in
trade to Russia, but now to be open
throughout its length to the commerce
OF Japan. The Sungar is 500 miles
long and its adjacent commerce is so
great that the region has the distinc-
tive name Of Sungaria.
The Portsmouth treaty also gave
Japan one-half of the island of SAX
halin lying off the Russian Pacific
). coast, and practically a part of the
Japanese group of islands as it is sep
arated from Yezo only by narrow
strait. Under the new agreement it
is said that Japan will acquire the
other half Of Sakhalin at the conclu-
sion Of the war, thus extending her
authority over the entire island. with
an area Of some 10000 square miles,
and completing her control OF all the
islands In the Japanese groups.
Referring to the effect of the treaty
not only the formal text but the COL
lateral effects of the present and fu-
ture as above summarized-a distin-
guished Russian said
Russia gets immediate advantages
In the release of her Siberian troops
for her western fighting front. But
in commercial and territorial advan-
tages Japan secures exceptional advan-
tages. her extension of territory being
greater than any of the belligerent al
lies has secured during the war"