New-York tribune., 1918-03-17

harm, that in fact what is heard now
Is uttered for the purpose of doing
harm. 1t slows up preparations. 1t
weakens the morale of the American
people and of the Allies. It causes that
ever reiterated query, "When will the
war end?" which is doing so much to
keep this country effectively out of the
war. 1t is said that the Administra-
tion means to tell the country that
II must fight to the bitter end, and
that it has cause worth fighting for,
the safety of this country and of the
world &om militaristic empire
greater that the Empire of Rome ever
was
While all this is true, it was stated
officially to-day that there has been no
change in the Administration position
with regard to Japan's plan 90 enter
Siberia. The interchange of views be-
tween this country and Japan is still
going on, which suggests that our OBJ
lection to intervention in Siberia is
having weight. Japan. having reached
IN understanding with us regarding the
disturbed by difference OF opinion
over the course to be pursued to pre-
vert Germany's entrance into the East
as 3 Pacific power.
1t appears difficult to free our posi-
non with regard to Siberia from a
suggestion of distrust of Japan, al
though we protest that our objection
not to the instrument through which
the Allies act but to any action by the
Allies, at least if unsolicited by Russia,
and we apparently incline to regard
the Congress of the Soviets as Russia.
And Japan is extremely sensitive to
any suggestion of distrust. The situa
ton has therefore certain delIcacy,
for this reason, but it is believed that
i can be made clear to Japan there is
r.othing personal to Japan in our un-
Willingness to see Siberia penetrated
by an Allied power
Many people here are puzzled by the
apparent inconsistency between the
Administrations unreadiness to regard
practically the plan to set up opposi-
ton to Germany in Russian territory
and its present perception that the war
is one to be fought with weapons, not
with words. Perhaps it is better not
TO attempt to say what President Will
son has in mind in the absence Of any
utterance of his upon Siberia. There
is another way Of getting at it, how
ever, and that is to give the objection
of radicals to an invasion of Siberia.
Mr.. Wilson, since the Russian revolu-
ton flashed across the sky of Europe,
always has in mind radical opinion
when he calculates the effects of a Dip
lomatic policy.
If Japan should enter Siberia it
would be to set up a conservative gov
ernment there, much as Germany has
set up conservative governments in
the Slavic states she has CELEBRATED"
from Russia. Radicals do not believe
that the Allies can appeal to the grow
ing radical opinion in England and
other Allied countries with record Of
having established conservative gov
ernment in Russia in opposition to the
working class revolution there.
They say, too, that peaceful work
ing class revolution is going on in
England itself; that after the next
election there the radical Labor party
will have much more to say about the
war than it has to-day, if it does not
have everything to say about the war.
If the war is to be fought out it must
be by convincing the radical working
classes that it is their war. And an
Intervention in Russia directed at the
workers revolution there is not the
way to carry this conviction to their
hearts.
I give this simply to indicate what
considerations may fairly be supposed
to weigh With the President in his op-
position to intervention in Siberia. This
opposition is of piece with his whole
policy. as indicated in his recent
speeches on war aims. It is not likely