The Washington herald., 1918-06-06
SIBERIANS'TEP
NOW RECEIVING
CONSIDERATION
Fresh Arguments Brought
Up by British, French
and Italians.

The steadily growing prospect OF
military Intervention in Siberia was
given added substance yesterday when
It was learned that the British, French
and Italian representatives in Wash
inston were presenting fresh argu-
ments to the American government in
support of such a move.
There is still no indication that the
President has altered his previously
announced policy of hands of.
Coincident with the developments at
Washington. II was stated in well
informed quarters that q new atti-
tude Is being established by the en-
tente governments towards the Boil
sheviki controlling the Soviet govern
ment at Moscow. As a result of this.
II is reported. the Russian leaders are
seriously considering an outright re-
pudiation of the Brest-Litovsk treaty
by which Russia's destiny was deliver
ed over to the Prussian scheme of
conquest.
Ask Allies for Help.
The Bolsheviki are reported to be
already considering the reputation of
the treaty, in view Of Germany's re-
peated violations, and are asking the
allies for help. following a declara-
ton of adherence to the old Russo
British-French pact against Germany
Allied diplomats here have little hope
of results frop the BoIsheviki. how
ever. Their argument, in brief, is
this:
Russia --'-' t be saved in spite Of
herself. 1t is no longer a question of
Russia or what Russia appears to
want. 1t is now a question of world
importance-whether German autoc-
racy will be permitted to consolidate
a new Eastern empire.
Washington is yet without con-
firmation of any developments
Either at Toxic or Peking indi-
eating immediate action in Siberia
is hinted in a London dispatch
Tuesday. But the Siberian situation
is receiving more attention in all
the allied chanceleries here than
any other problem except the i'm
mediate one of holding the Germans
on the Western front.
The very fact that the American
State Department made public the
announcement of the huge advan-
tage in returned prisoners which
Germany is already reaping is con-
sidered in many quarters to indi-
cate that the administration may
swing around to the allied point OF
view.
The recovery of these prisoners
it is pointed out, bears upon the
most vital problem of the whole
war. the factor upon which victory
or defeat on the Western front will
turn. This Is the relative man
power of the two contending armies
In this sense it is represented that
the problem of interventlons is no;
even strictly an Eastern problem
but one which may decide the
fortunes of the whole world or
the battlefields of France and Bel.
gium.
Consider Japan Differently.
There has also been a distinct
change in Washington sentiment
with regard to Japan. Though the
good faith of Japan in offering tc
intervene has always been officially
and heartily accepted, there have
been many influential persons here
who have not been able to cleal
their minds of suspicion of the ia.
panese motives.
One of these persons said yester.
day that the restrained way in
which Japan had conducted herself
for the last two months had now
thoroughly convinced him of the
honesty OF the Toxic disclaimer.
of any national ambitions in Rus.