Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1918-05-08
WILSON WINS OVER
JAPe On SIBERIA

government is perfectly aware that
the most momentous consequences,
but the people may rest assured that
Japan will never embark on an un
necessary war We will not hesitate
to go to war to uphold the interests
OF Japan, as we'll as the Allies, but
such step ha snot yet been justi-
ged
This statement, made by Premier
Count Terauchi in the National Diet,
may be taken as a pretty accurate
summary of Japans attitude toward
Russia and the possibility of Japan
csc Intervention. This calm declara-
ton of the premier, coupled with the
sypathetic policy of President Wilson
and the United States toward Russia,
has just about quieted the clamor for
an immediate Japanese military ex-
petition to Siberia which was re-
sounding throughout the island empire
but a few days ago.
Indeed it is remargable, now that the
idea of hasty action in throwing mil
lion troops into Asiatic Russia seems
to have been abandoned, to recall the
situation a fortnight ago. A coun-
trywide mobilization order was expect
ed momentarily, reservists had been
directed to remain at their homes,
wild rumors of landing at Vladivo-
stok were reported and the newspa-
per correspondents were preparing to
HE them3e.~c s toward the frozen
banks of tn Amir.
whispers CT war, made with bated
breath and lowering eyebrows, spread
from the columns of the press to the
little one-storied homes and shops of
Toxic; there was something in the
omnibus ilent tenseness felt on the
eve OF the Russo-Japanese conflict over
decade ago. There was no emotion,
no fear-the Japanese are taught to
conceal their feelings-but there was
a grim recognition that the bloody
hand of Mars was about to descend
upon the Land of the Gods. If you
were newspaper man, dignified Lii
bputian policeman, with flowing mus
ache and cianking sabre, marched into
your Office almost nightly with writs
prohibiting the movements, the DELHI
erations of the foreign advisor coun-
Gil, or other matters considered of
| grave Importance to the welfare of the
Empire.
A large section of the press, aided
by talkative statesmen, publicists and
professors, loud voiced their impati-
ence at the seeming dilatoriness Of
the government in sounding the call
to arms 1t was even limited that the
American attitude was responsible for
preventing the salvation of Russia and
the crushing of the German menace
by Japan.
It's different now. Overnight, al
most, came the realization that a mill
itary expedition to Siberia might in
many ways be impracticable, that the
German menace was yet long ways
from the Orient and that there might
be ways of saving Russia other than
invading her territory, with the risk
that she would he thrown in the wait
ing arms of Germany Domestic OPP
position to intervention developed,
there was talk of ministerial crisis
Tonnage, finances and other items
forced themselves to the front.
Most important, however of the fact
ors which determined calmness in
dealing with Russia was probably Am
erica. 1t is now recognized in the
most responsible quarters that the
United States is not opposed to inter
vention in principle, nor does she
question Japan's motives, but that she
does not wish to run the risk of arous-
ing Russian hostility against armed
Intervention unless the German pene-
tration eastward makes such policy |
absolutely Imperative 1t is also APP
p-eciated that if the dispatch of Japan |
csc troops should become inevitable |
Japan would be backed in her move
ment by every ounce of aid America i
could give her. In the meantime, Pre- |
mier Count Terauchi is endeavoring to
steady the FESTIVE elements.