New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1918-03-15
BALFOUR INDIGNANT
CHAMPIONING JAPAN
England'S Foreign Secretary Be-
GeVes Nippon Can Be Trusted
ANS W ERS LEES SMITH

Makes Caustic Reply to Insinuations
That Ally in Orient Would Not
Evacuate Siberia, Once Eoothold
Was Obtained There.
London, March 15.-Debate on the
question Of Japanese Intervention in
Siberia in the house of commons to-
day brought from Foreign Secretary
Balfour the declaration that German
penetration in Russia must be COM
hatted The Allies point of view was
that they should help Russia in pro-
tecting herself against Germany. AL
though he did not think Germany
would send an army 10 Nladivostok
he said he had absolute faith in
Japan's loyalty in carrying out any
decision reached by the Allies
Discussing the situation in Russia
he said: eff Russia had not been at
war it would have taken many years
to complete the beneficent course Of
the revolution. When autocracy fell
almost without a blow, Russia i'm
mediateIy fell into chaos 1t is un-
true to say the same thing happened
in the French revolution for there
the effect was not the disintegraton,
Dut the integratiOn of France. Pre-
cisely the opposite happened in
Russia. The revolution came and all
the old divisions between regions and
treedS became marked and promi-
nent.
1T must inevitably take time be-
fore we will see the end of that pro-
cess and to know clearly how much
of Old Russia. if any, ought to cease
tC form a part of New Russia, and
now New Russia would be con-
stituted. 1t is a very difficult pro-
cess in time Of peace and prosperity,
but how can you carry it on in time
of war with q remorseless, persever-
ing and quite INSCRIPTIONS enemy at
the gate?
Fears Russia .A> Tcuton Outpost.
"Therc will be classes, some from
patriotic. other from selfish motives
ready to welcome anything promising
4 sem blanCe of stability and order in
the government. When that time
comes I can imagine Germany trying
to re-establish possibly the old form
Ct autoCratiC government. We would
soon see Russia shorn of its fairest
provinces ana WITH Il klDG OF aulOc-
racy far worse than the old autoc-
Iacy because it would lean upon a
foreign power for continued exist
ence. If that came to pass, all our
dreams of Russian development and
liberty would be gone and Russia
would become q Nero outpost of the
Central Powers
That is the real difficulty Of deal
ing with the problems raised in this
debate. Mr.. Lees Smiths speech is
a strong attack on what he cOnceives
as the governments policy regarding
Japan and Siberia. It is entirely OBJ
livious Of the facts have just brought
before the house and is based on a
profound misunderstanding Of what
any human being had ever thought.
contrived or desired with regard to
allied intervention, Japanese or other
in Russian affairs
Fl. 3. Loes-Smith a liberal, in ques-
tioning Mr.. Balfour as to the British
attitude, had declared if Japan en-
tered Russian territory and occupied
it at the mandate Of the alliance it
followed with almost absolute certain
ty that this territory would not be
returned.
Full Confidence in Japan.
'I cannot continue the debate"
said Mr.. Balfour in conclusion, with
out repudiatiny to the full Lees
Smiths suggestion that ia pan would
be moved by selfish and dishonorable
motives in any course which may be
discussed in Japan rather among her
statesmen or with the allies.
Japan has behaved with perfect
loyalty and if she gives promise with
regard to Russian integrity or on any
question connected with Russia she
would keep them as she has kept all
promises she had made in connection
with the war or any great public
transactions with the United states.
IT do know distinctly that this mat
ter is between Japan and allies who
make up the great body Of the bel
ligerents on the entente side
THE decisions the allies may have
to IKE will not he without difficulty,
but the principle upon which these
decisions may be arrived at will be
neither ungenerous, unfair nor hos
tile to Russia and the Russian revo
luton. Our object is to see Russia
strong, intact secure and free, and
if these objects can be obtained then,
and then only. will tho Russian revo-
luton bring forth all the fruits itu
best friends desire to see"
COURTROOM IS CLEARED.
I've q