The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-07-11
TOPEKA STATE JOURNAL
FORM ALTON
Blu RE AU
FREDERIC J. HASKIN. Director.
Washington. D. c.
SIBERIA AND THE WORLD WAR

Washington, D. c., July s.-An
American military expedition into ST.
IBERIA, in cooperation with Japan and
probably with England and France,
| for the purpose of safeguarding that
| great territory and counteracting Ger
| man aggression IN Russia, is a prob
ability of the near future, in the
opinion of many student of the world
| situation.
| with a demand for allied 'reconstruc-
ton" of Russia, and the growing de-
mand both in Japan and in Europe
for some decisive action in Siberia,
make this increasingly apparent. The
only thing which has prevented Jap
anese intervention n Siberia thus far
is the refusal of the United States to
countenance such move. But both
| the demand and the need for some
action by way of the Far East have
now become SO strong that America
will probably have to let Japan act
alone, or else act in cooperation with
| her.
| For a number of reasons, co-opera-
| tive action on the part of these two
nations, and probably also the entente
| allies, seems to offer the best solution
of the problem.
To make it clear how Siberia has
become a factor of the first import
| ance in the world war, the steps lead
ing to that state of affairs must be-
considered chronologically. Some
| months go a suggestion appeared in
newspapers all over the world that
Japan ought to intervene in Siberia
to safeguard the supplies which had
been landed at Vladivostok for the
use of the Russians and which had
lain there ever since because of the
lack of adequate railway facilities to
IN1lra han 90 ~
| was also pointed out that several hun
dred thousand German and Austrian
! prisoners were confined in Siberia, and
that. since the collapse of Russia,
these might obtain their freedom and
become a formidable German force in
the east.
One of the first DEVELOPMENTS fol-
lowing this suggestion, was a refusal
by the United States to countenance
such move on the part of Japan.
A little lat~r it became known that
both the French and English govern
ments favored japanese Intervention
| in Siberia. The japanese attitude was
then said to be that Japan stood ready
to intervene in Siberia, but would not
do SO unless the United States wished
| 1t. JapanS readiness for the move
was confirmed by the fact, not gener-
ally known, that she had three army
corps modified for the purpose. The
| size of the force is not without its
significance Inree army corps are
about forty-five tho. sand troops
Such a force could occupy and police
the country. ut would certainly not
be sufficient for any aggressive action
against Germany.
That is the way the situation re-
mains today, so far as the attitude of
the powers are concerned-Japan
| ready and willing to go in at a word
France ar England willing to let her,
and the United States steadfastly re-
fusing consent. The motives back of
these various attitudes have never
been adequately analysed for pub1ica-
ton, and to the general public the
great significance of the Siberian
situation remains unknown.
Several good reasons may be as
signed for the unwillingness of our
government to let ia pan enter Siberia.
In the first place, the alleged mill
tary necessity for such move, in
order to safeguard the supplies and
prisoners in Siberia, is said by many
authorities not to exist. The supplies
are separated from Germany by six
thousand miles of badly disordered
railroad and are hardly worth what
intervention would cost. The prison
ers are without arms or supplies. and
could not possibly organize them
selves into an effective fighting force.
These allege" reasons for intervention
are considered insufficient, and have
now practically been forgotten.
The most important reason why the
United States cannot permit Japan
TO enter Siberia alone is the aversion
or the Russian people and of the Chi
nese people to such a move. The Unit
ed States is in this war for the an
nounced purpose of supporting demo-
cracy and self-determination of peo-
pies. Russia and China are the two
greatest democracies in the world, and
are both now in the most critical
stages of their evolution as SUCH Both
OF these nations regard Japan as an
autocracy of exactly the same stamp
as Germany. Indeed, they consider
Shat her form of government and her
national ambitions are modelled after
those OF the Prussians. Hence thew do
not care to trust Japan in Siberia.
They believe that Japan wants a
piece of Siberia for herself This be-
i1er they support by the facts that
Japan has long been seeking an out
} let Tor her overcrowded population;
ana that Siberia, one of the last great
undeveioped Hilds. would afford an
ideal one. They also assert that Jan
an has never yet relinquished any ter
rltory seized under pretext of military
necessity.
To the russians. then. Japanese in
prevention in Siberia would mean the
= gaining of permanet foothold in that
country by Japan. which they regard
as the autocracy of the east Mean
time. Germany. the autocracy of the
west, is penetrating Russia from the
! other side. The Russians believe that
+ these two governments are not fun
, damentally hostile. In their view OF
the case, Japanese aggression in ST.
, oerla would mean the crushing OF
Russia and the division of her lands
, between these two powers. Germany
and Japan would then dominate one
haIf of humanity and nearly half OF
S the worlds resources. Autocracy, as
3 the Russians see it, would indeed be
victorious.
This. of course. is merely the at.
titude of Democratic and Socialistic
i Russia, but 1t is an attitude which we
E are bound to take into consideration
since we have announced that the ell
5 fare of Russia is one of our objects il
e this war. The Chinese attitude is one
t which also inevitably influences oul
And tho CyhinaSa oil