The Washington herald., 1918-03-16
]. S. WILLSTILL
FOLLOW PLANS
TO AID RUSSIA
While Situation Is Chaotic
Soviet Peace Vote Is Not
DeemedRepresentative.
JAPAN In HARMONY
Nippon Armies Move
on Siberia They Will Not
Antagonize America.

The United States will not abandon
its efforts to help Russia. The re-
ported vote of the Sovlets Congress
to ratify the German peace treaty
does not end the Russian story.
These two facts stood out as the
only solid elements last night In an
Eastern situation which Is little
short Of chaos.
There Is one other element which
last night appeared to be rapidly
crystalizing. 1t is this:
Japan May Aid.
Japan may be the agency through
which the benificent aims of the
United States in Russia may be exer-
cised,
But If Japan's armies advance into
Siberia, it is made plain, they will do
so on an entirely different basis from
the proposed one to which President
Wilson ten days ago dissented.
They will advance, according to re-
liable information, on the sole ground
that they must meet and block the
German menace to Russia, as well as
to the allied cause in general Japan.
1t Is hinted in well-advised quarters
here, will present to the United States
a view of the Siberian problem calcu-
lated amply to justify President Will
son in approving the movement.
England, 1t is pointed out, in the
public uterances of Sir Arthur Bal
four and the generally expressed
sentiments of her press and diplo-
mats, has already in effect guaran-
teed to the United States that
Japan's motives will be disinterest-
ed.
President Wilson, in his dissent
from the first japanese plan, did
pot raise the question of Japan's
REIMBURSEMENT of the territory she
proposes to occupy.
So Japan will not include any
declaration on that point in heI
statement in response. But the gen.
eral acceptance by England, France
and Italy of the principle that
Japan is not bent on permanent
conquest on the Asiatic mainland
is counted on to guarantee to those
in America who doubt Japan's mo-
tiyes that in the final settlement OF
peace all of the Entente allies will
be firmly aligned against japanese
spoliation, of Russia, even IL Japan
herself should be inclined to carry
out such a project.
Conditions Changed.
The other THREE principal objections
OF the President to japanese action
were the violation Of the sovereignty
of a friendly, even an allied nation
and the two facts that neither the
importance of the supplies imperiled
at Vladivostock and elsewhere. mol
the imminence Of the German menace
would warrant such a step.
Conditions have changed on these
three points. according to competent
diplomatic opinion, in these respects
Under the terms of the German
peace forced upon Russia at the point
Of the bayonet, Russia has either lost
its sovereignty or has become an ally
Of Germany. The peace terms so pro-
vide for German political and COM
mercial permeation of Russia and are
SO stringent against even the expires.
sion of Russian opinion as to warrant
this supposition in many minds here
last night.
The supposition is borne out by the
declaration of Trotzky and the eyi
dence that no matter how formally
Russia accepts the peace. it is a peace
that can never last. The opinion il
even supported by extracts from tht
German liberal press, recently re.
CONTINUED ON PAGE FIVE.