Evening star., 1918-07-26
SIBERIAN PROJECT
NOT FIGHTING Job
Japan and America Agree to
Send Small Force to Con-
yoy Supplies.
NO oFFENsE TO RUSSIA
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
Copyright, 1918, by the New York Evening
Post Company.)

BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
Copyright, 1918, by the New York Evening
Post Company
Japan and the United States are
virtually in agreement upon the
policy which they intend to pursue in
Russia. The negotiations are still
proceeding, however. as there are
some points which must be canvassed
further,
These, however, are secondary to
the main principles upon which as
sistance to Russia will be based. and
involve chiefly some detailed ques-
tions Of strategy and the size of the
international force which is to pro-
tect the westward movement OF
munitions and supplies from Vladi-
vostok.
But it is opportune to refute cer-
tain Impressions which have gone
forth as to the size Of the expedition.
Neither Japan nor the United States
suggested anything like a force OF
50, 900 men. Comment made by Japan
upon the American proposals involves
figure much less than that.
Anxious to Avoid offense.
Indeed, Japan is just as anxious as
the United States to do nothing that
would offend the Russian people. The
reported resignation of Baron Uchida,
the Japanese ambassador to Russia.
is an indication of how moderate and
conservative are some Of the Japanese
ought to be DONE q
japanese ambassador to the United
States only a few years ago, has re-
peatedly said that the allies SHOULD
keep hands of. but If an armed force
After all, when the figures are finally
agreed upon, the expedition will be
only a handful of men as armies are
nowadays organized.
But it is not the object of the allied
force-for there will be American regi-
ments as well as British and French
and japanese troops-to push west
ward with the Czecho-Slovaks in an
attempt to penetrate to European
ern front. If there is to be new
eastern front on Russian territory 1t
must be constructed by the Russians
themselves.
What the allies plan to do in effect
to European Russia by sending sup.
plies along observation-disclosures railway
far 4erough toward European Russia
20 that when the government or the
people OF Russta want to fight the
Germans they will not have to go far
to get military equipment and to find
a line of communication open to Japan
and the United States for the replen-
ishment of the supplies used.
Protection for Supplies.
ANY considerable amount Of sup
plies must have effective protection.
The Czecho-S -Slovak troops are al
ready strung along the transsiberian
railway, most important from the al
lied point of view to keep from fall
ing into the hands Of the armed Ger
man and Austrian prisoners and
those local elements which have be-
come attached to them in opposition
to the Czecho-Slovaks.
For the present the latter will be
the connecting link between the
allies and the Russian situation. Later
on when. conceivably. the co-opera-
tion of the Russians themselves may
become an actuality, there may be
junction formed with a military move
ment northward from 'the Adriatic
In principal, however, it can be said
that both Japan and the United States
are in accord as to the extent of the
assistance to be rendered the Czecho-
Slovaks in Vladfvostok. First OF all,
both sides wish to do nothing to at
feet the sovereignty of Russia, nor
do they wish to occupy any territory
for other than the military purposes
involved in the present undertaking.
Secondly, there is a mutual desire to
respect the wishes Of the Russian
people and to proceed only in 50 far as
it may be indicated by them that they
want assistance.
No Aggressive Measure.
Nothing resembling a military in
tervention or aggression is contem-
plated. NOTHING of that character was
ever discussed between the two gov
ernments.
The negotiations have been conduct
ed between the United States and
Japan with occasional consultations
with Great Britain, France and Italy.
When the agreement is finally con-
cluded, however. it will not be Of the
formal character of the Lansing-Ishii
agreement, but an informal under
standing. between the governments
concerned.
There Is every expectation that Its
provisions will be made public. 1t
will be necessary for Japan, for in
stance, to have the approval of her
parliament in getting the needed ap-
propriations.
What Japan has commented on, in
the American proposals cannot at this
time be revealed. They involve mill
tary strategy and the size of the ex-
pedition. am reliably informed that
the points on which there is further
discussion involve no fundamental diff
ference of opinion, but military as
poets which 1t is natural for the
Japanese to take into consideration.
For instance, II the size Of the force
is limited and. the allied troops move
westward with the Czecho- -Sloyaks
and encounter opposition, some proyi-
sion must be made now for contin-
gencies and emergencies. Similarly
there must be definite instructions to
the commanders as to how they shall
proceed in order to get the most ef-
fective results.
Essentially Agreed.
ron the whole. therefore. 1t is cor
rect to say that in all essential points
there is complete agreement between
the United States and Japan, but in