Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-03-05
WILSON SOON TO GIVE
VIEWS ON SIBERIA
[Continued from First Page.l

Toxic, that the Japanese govern
ment is extremely well-informed of
the developments in Siberia, but at
present is adopting a policy of
watchful waiting. Japan is care
fully avoiding arousing the antagon-
ism of loyal Russians, who, notwith-
standing their dire need of assist
ance, appear to be extremely SEN
sitive of outside interference.
Recognizing also that China is en-
titled to consideration as a protector
of the frontier on which Japan does
not actually border, Japan, the dis
patch adds, probably has agreed
with China on a plan for prompt
cooperation.
Washington. March 5.-President
Wilson is expected to go before Con-
gress very soon, probably within a
few days, and there lay down the
course which America is to follow IN
the battling situation created by the
proposed military entry of Japan in
to Siberia.
With such a confiction of inter
!
seems very probable that he will fal
| back on basic principles, hold to the
truth as he sees it and cut straight
through to the goal of democratic
war aims, no matter how far he may
| diVerge from one or another of the
various lines of interest which tenn.
porarily have centered in this spec
| tacular issue.
When the President speaks he will
at the same time answer Count vor
Hertling and cover the whole inter
| national field. Events are rapid.
shaping themselves so that a mes
sage of liberalism, a war message
, against imperialism and autocracN
going back to the basic principles o1
our democratic war aims will include
every issue at present on the boards
and will be an answer all around tC
the vast new complexities that have
arisen overnight to render the task
of liberalism more difficult than ever
before.
What is happening in the Japanese
situation is distinctly under the rose
The last two days have added nc
news to what was known already
Am merica's decision has not beer
taken. No intimation can be CLEANED
in official quarters as to what this
preston gathered from a discussion
in many quarters of the points in
the case which are now common
knowledge is that the Administra-
ton itself is still in a quandry as
to what is best to do.
Most Difficult Task of War
Not that there is any doubt as to
the course which America would
l.
plications. On a fiat proposition
America would never countenance
nor lend her support to the entrance
of Japan into Siberia. But it is the
enormous compleXity of the various
factors involved which under pres
ent circumstances is giving the Ad-
ministration it's most difficult and
portentous task in the field of for
eign policy since Americas entrance
into the war.
The understanding is that Eng
land and France are outrightly sup
porting the Japanese position and
are bringing every pressure to bear
upon America to agree with them in
giving Japan free hand in Siberia
France, according to report, is more
bitter than England against the Boil
sheviki, ana this is understood to be
the real motive behind the support
of a Japanese invasion of Siberia.
America is known to have coun-
tered British and French pressure
for our unqualified approval of this
plan by raising the issue to the effect
of this action upon all parties in
Russia and by pointing out that, al
though Japan's intentions in ST.
beria are, of course, beyond queS-
ton, she ought to outline these in
tentions in an official declaration OF
guarantee that she has no territorial
or economic ambitions in the mat
ter, and that every issue raised by
submitted to the peace conference al
the end of the war.
Japan's Attitude Unknown
The allies are understood to have
assented to this counter-proposal in
so far as they have agreed to try to
obtain from Japan such a declara-
ton. 1t is not known whether Japan
has yet made reply or whether
America has definitely committed
herself in case Japan makes favor
able reply, but considerable doubt OF
the latter is being expressed in usu-
ally well-informed quarters. The
impression seems to be that, so far
as any actual decision in the matter
is concerned, America is still free
The step has not yet been taken.
Japan has been acting in this sit
uation largely through the gooo
offices of the British and French am
bassadors in Washington. Count
Ishii, the new Japanese ambassador
has not yet arrived in America oi
he would undoubtedly be conducting
the negotiations in a direct avenue
from Toxic.