The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-03-06
Wilson Holds Occupation Is
Contrary to American
Principles.
OFFENSIVE TO RUSSIA
President Believes Step Is
Not Justified as Mill
tary Necessity.
CABINET DEBATES CASE
Position of This Government
Officially Defiued After
Meeting.
Special Despatch 10 THx srN.

WASHINGTON. March 5.-This Govern
'nene has not asscnted and will not
assent TO the proposed Japanese occu.
patton of Siberia. II is understood that
an official communication making clear
the position of this Government In re-
fus!ng to give It's assent to occupation
Of Russian territory is already on its
way to Toxic.
Il Is fully expected here that Japan
will send an expedition to Siberia In
fact reports have reached this Govern
rnent that a Japanese expedition OF 40.
600 men Is preparing to sail for Siberia
II 1t has not already started. Great
Britain. France and Italy are under
stood to have approved the plan That
the United States cannot prevent Japan
from carrying out such q plan Ia fully
realized here.
This Government is not disposed 20
carry any objections II may see in It
beyond the point OF informing Japan
that It cannot give its Endorsement. To
go beyond that would be to arrogate
to itself supervisory power in world
af1airs which 1t does not seek to assume.
Cabinet Disc cusses Problem
The Japanese matter was taken up at
the Cabinet meeting to-day and 1t was
at the conclusion of the Cabinet meeting
that the statement was authorized by
Secretary Tumulty that no assent had
been given This statement WAS issued
following printed report made to APP
pear more or less authoritative that the
United States was in agreement With
Japan, Great Britain. France and tn.
other Allies regarding matters in Siberia,
the details alone remaining tn bs worked
nut hn ptal nf in Narts
as indications had all clearly pointed the
other way. Apparently both Crea'
Britain and France had expected such
an agreement.
Also the indications had been that
this Government. unless It agreed. would
not appear formally In the matter.
The refusal of the Government to give
assent to the proposed expedition Is
known to be based on the theory that
such action would he against the priv
ciples and the ideals for which il ELI.
tered the world war. This Government.
II is understood. cannot concur in tho
idea that occupation of any Siberian ter-
ritory by Japan can be viewed at this
time in the light of military necessity
and feels that il is bound to he resented
by the Russian people
Military operations against Germany
through Siberia with conditions as they +.
are in Russia and without the coopera-
ton of the russians themselves are re
garded as impracticable. On the othe-
hand. the danger of Germany extending
the zone Of military operations to includ.
Siberia Is not regarded real here.
Protection Of Suppli-s.
SO far az tho matter of protecting Ia.
supplies at Vladivostok goes the view
held by this Government is understooG
to be that not only is it not apparcu,
that they stand IN any real danger OF
falling into German hands. but tha.
these supplies are on Russian territory
and belong TO the Russian people. A.
worst they could be destroyed, bu, could
hardly DO moved. Il Is felt - the zone
of military operations.
hut tho point stressed hero in connec-
ton with the whole matter OF Japans
proposed expedition Is that this Gov
ernnent cannot assent 10 any occupation
Of Russian territory without going bac,,
upon the ideals which President Wilson
has clearly and forcefuliy set before al
the world as underlying our entire ac-
ton in the present conflict.
Tho President believes that having
announced definite principles for our
selves III this matter II is hcumbenl
upon this Government to keep its recoru
with respect thereto absolutely clean g.
every move that Il makes and that no
motive OF cxpediency should avail 10 d.
vert us from the path We have mapped
out.
The United States alone among the
be!ligerents is waging war for Ideals
Furthermore II has no treaty witt
Japan such as Great Britain has !,
must therefore be guided entirely by the
principles which 1t has announced to the
world. and more particularly 20 the Rus
sian people.
Would lie Inconsistent.
For this Government 10 approve Of
the Japanese plan, il is held, would be
inconsistent with the Presidents state
ment OF war aims made in his address
OF January S. in which he stressed poi-
t!cularly the treatment that should be
accorded the Russian people and Rus
sian territory
Number six Of the fourteen points IN
that address was as follows:
The evacuation Of all Russian terri
tory and such a settlement OF all ques-
tions affecting Russia as will secure
the best and freest cooperation Of the
other nations Of tho world In obtaining
for her an unhampered and unembar-
rassed opportunity for the independent
determination OF her own political de.
relopment and national policy and as
sure her OF a sincere welcome into the
society Of free nations under institu-
tions OF her own choosing and more
than welcome assistance also -
every kind that she may need and may
herself desire, Tho treatment &C
corded Russia by her sister nations in
the months to come will he the acid
test OF their good will, OF their COM
prehension of her needs as distin-
guished fnom their own interests, and
of their Intelligent and unseliish SYM
pathy
According to the view taken by those
who are defining the course OF this Gov
"rnment in this admittedly delicate stu
ation--perhaps the most delicate that has