The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-03-15
Important Debate in Commons
on Jap-Siberia Situation.
Allies Disposed To Protect Slavs
Against Kaiser Regime.
GIVE Time To FORM GOVT
BaIfOur Has Faith Japs Will
Garry Out Allies Plan.
He Denounces Liberalists' Cry
of "YellOw Peril" in Siberia.

London March 15.-Debate on the
question of Japan Intervention in
Siberia in the house of commons to-
day brought from Foreign Secretary
Balfour the declaration that German
penetration in Russia must be COM
bated. The allied point OF view was
that they should help Russia in pro-
tecting herself against Germany.
Altho he die not think that Germany
would send an army to V1adivoStok,
he said he had absolute faith in
Japan's loyalty in carrying out any
decision reached by the allies.
Discussing the situation in Russia,
Mr.. Ralfour said:
eff Russia had not been at war it
would have taken many years to
complete the beneficent course of the
revolution. When autocracy fell al
most without a blow, Russia imme
to say that the same thing happened
in the French revolution for there
the effect was not the disintegration
but the integration of France. Pre-
ciSely the opposite happened in Rus
sia. The revolution came and all the
old divisions between religions and
creeds became marked and promi-
nent.
Will Take Time to Reform Russia.
L. InuS- lnoNlIdDfy take time De-
fore we will see the end of that pro-
cess and to know clearly how much
of Old Russia, if any, ought to cease
to form a part of New Russia. and
how New Russia will be constituted
1t is a very difficult process in time
of peace and prosperity, but how can
you carry it on in time of war with
4 ren:orseless. persevering and quite
Inscriptions enemy at the gate?
There will, be clashes. some from
patriotic. Others from selfish motives
ready to welcome anything promising
a semblance of liability and order in
the government When that time
comes I can imagine Germany trying
to re-establish possibly the old form
of autocratic government We should
then have Russia shorn of some of its
fairest provinces and with a kind of
autocracy far worse than the old au-
tocracy because it would lean upon a
foreign power for continued existence
If that came to pass, all our dreams
of Russian development and Russian
liberty would be gone and Russia
would become a mere outpost of the
i central powers.
THAT is the real difficulty of deal
ing with the problems raised in this
debate. Mr.. Lees-Smith's' speech is a
strong attack on what he conceives as
the governments policy with regard
to Japan and Siberia. 1t is entirely
before the house and is based on a
profound misunderstanding of what
any human being had ever thought
contrived or desired with regard to
allied intervention. Japanese or other.
in Russian affairs"
Liberalist Fears Japan.
H B. Lees-Smith. Liberal, in
questioning Mr.. Balfour as tc the
British attitude had declared that if
Japan entered Russian territory and
occupied it at the mandate of the al
lance, it followed with almost abso-
lutte certainty that this territory would
not be returned.
IT cannot let this debate end" said
Mr.. Balfour in conclusion. without
repudiating to the full Mr.. Lees
Smiths suggestion that Japan would
be moved by selfish and dishonora BILE
motives in any course which may be
discussed in Japan, either among her
statesmen with the allies.
Japan has behaved with perfect
loyalty and if she gives promises with
regard to Russian integrity or on any
question connected with Russia. she
promises she has made in connection
with this war or any great public
transa ctions with the United States
and the allies who make up the grea
body of the belligerents on the entente
side.
Must Deliver RusSia-Free.
THE decisions the allies may have
to take will not be without difficulty
but the principle upon which those de-
cisions may be arrived will be neither
ungenerous. unfair nor hostile to Rus
sia and the Russian revolution Our
object is to see Russia strong, intact
secure and free and if these objects
can be obtained then, and then only
will the Russian revolution bring
forth all the fruits its best friends de-
sire to see"