Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-03-08

INC ~IIVcSc Cabinet, the mes
sage states, has definitely decided
upon the fullest cooperation with
Japan.
Washington, D. c., March cit was
stated authoritatively today that the
United States has sent no communi.
cation to Japan on the subject of &C.
ton in Siberia and that if any views
Of this government are expressed they
probably will be conveyed to Great
Britain, through which the United
States has received all it's information
on the situation.
1t was further stated that the Unit
ed States has not assented, dissented
nor protested, and that without any
exchange of written communications
Japan already understands the friend
~ attitude of the United States and
Its disposition to take no part. In
addition Japan understands that the
United States credits her with disin-
terested purposes if action in Siberia
should be taken.
ENGLAND is INTERMEDIARY
At the same time, it is understood,
Japan understands the United States
is giving thought to the moral effect
In Russia of such action and would
feel that the absolute necessity should
be apparent before it is taken. These
views have been expressed to Great
Britain, which as an intermediary ad-
vised the United States
Administration officials are some
what disturbed at the various inter.
pretations being placed on the atti
tude of the government toward Japan's
prospective action in Siberia.
The statement that the United
States is in accord in principle with
Japan's plans, supposing always that
action is necessary, has been inter-
preted In some dispatches to mean
that the United States has assented to
the plan and the further statement
that the United States has not assent.
ed has been construed in others to
mean that the government has with.
held its assent.
JAPAN HASN'T ASKED
These various statements are all
generally regarded as a play upon
words at time when official an.
nouncements of the exact status Of the
situation are being withheld.
Japan, so far as can be learned,
never has asked the approval of the
United States to her plans, consequent.
ly there is nothing for the United
States to assent to. On the other hand,
the fact that the United States under
the circumstances is not asserting to
the plan is not to be construed, in the
absence of official announcement to
that effect that assent has been with
held in the diplomatic sense Of the
term.
TOUCHES 1RiTAINs INTEREST
The United States has been advised
Ct Japan's feeling through Japan's
ally, Great Britain. and these two gov
ernments are discussing the situation
In the light of the Anglo-Japanese
agreement for the preservation of
status in the far east
It has been pointed out to state de.
partment officials that the Anglo-Jap.
oAese pact Is essentially conservative
N spirit and that so far from contem-
plating or countenancing aggressive
action on the part of either Great Brit.
ain or Japan with the purpose Of ex-
tending their territorial possessions
in the far east, the purpose is directly
opposite and aimed to conserve the
present status of both nations. To
this end, it was found necessary to
pledge each of them to combine to
resist any other nation that might
attack either of them in the east.
Reports reaching Japan from many
quarters il Siberia have convinced the
Japanese government that just such
an attack is to be feared from Ger.
many; If not directly, then by stirring
up the bolsheviki in Siberia. Wheth-
er this apprehension is well founded
is declared to be entirely within the
Judgment of the Japanese conservative
though it is possible they would feel
it necessary to convince their special
ally. Great Britain. of the fact before
taking action.
AS Japan's special ally, Great Brit
ain is represented as having conf
dence in Japan's intentions and has
to impart that confidence to
the United States.
1t is believed that the state depart
ment has been convinced on this
point but does not consider it neces-
sary to record itself.