The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-03-02
IS WARS DEEPEST PUZZLE.
America Believes Russians WouId
Join Germans Against Japs.
BY CARL D. GROAT

BY CARL D. GROAT
Washington, March 2.-America's
decision as to japanese or joint al
lied Intervention IN Siberia remains
today one of the deepest international
puzzles of recent months.
A nigh cabinet member suggested
that the United States will not object
to Japan going in> 'in self defense"
but that this country will not join.
Speculation ran to confirmation of his
view but the state department was still
silent early today. Other sources close
to the president suggested that the
problem presented one of the most
delicate questions this government has
had to meet.
Some officials frankly doubted that
the situation thus far is such as to re-
quire Japan's entrance.
Russian Defense Stronger.
In this connection they pointed out
that Russian resistance is stiffening
and that German penetration to
Siberia is next to impossible. AS for
Germans in Siberia, they have not con-
Stltuted real menace yet, and the
supplies at Vladivostok are apparently
in no extreme danger for the moment.
More important, in the opinion of
those opposed. is the fact that permits
sion to Japan would mean the en-
trance of an autocracy into Russia s
east ern gateway while another autoc-
, racy overran her from the west.
And, thes authorities said, it is
quite conceivable that once Japan had
, a foothold in Siberia she would be
loath to relinquish it.
Her entrance, it was suggested,
/ might cause many of the Russians to
go over to the Germans to fight the
former enemy. while in any event the
e try might be open to misinterpreta-
ton in many quarters as an auto
cratic invasion.
No Aggressions Against Slavs.
On the other hand, those favoring
the ste. said Japan as an ally ought
to be accorded full trust and that she
should be backed up in the interven-
ton on the ground that her interests
| in ne East had to be protected, while
at the same time no aggression would
be attempted against the Russians.
The allies apparently are quite ia
vorable to action, presumably with
| Japan playing lone hand. Some of
| the allied feeling is that Russia de-
serves no consideration at allied or
| American hands. This spirit, how
ever, conflicts with the American idea
| of encoura ging the Russians, particu-
| larly as they now shoy- some tendency
to hold off the Teuton.
Look TO New Slav Leader.
The German grasp on Russia is
world peace as her mitteleuropa idea
or her control of Alsace-Lorraine and
it is argued that anything that will
| tend to thwart the German without
| harming the Russian is worth trying
The apparent breaking off of Russo
German peace negotiations square.
with the recent diplomatic advices OF
the American government which said
that ultimately a real fighting line
would be formed and a new leader
will arise to head the Slavs. Rumania
| too is now inclined to resent imposi-
| ton of any unfair German peace
| terms.
The American position, it is now
| believed will not be withheld. Con
situations between Colonel House
Lord Reading, Secretary Lansing an6
the president have apparently served
to clear the atmosphere, tho it left q
| difficult problem for the president tc
solve. Japan is anxious to be up and
atN the task and is pressing for ar
| answer. Some authorities suggests
| she has merely taken a diplomatic
| way of letting the allies know that she
intends to act in any event.