New-York tribune., 1918-06-06
Fears Delay May I urn Both
Russia and Japan to Kaiser
Observer in Paris Thinks Dread of Offending Bolshevki
Is Likely to Bring New Disaster, as Germany
Is Strengthening Her Hold in East
BY Caspar Whitney

question VIC delay while Germany con-
tinues daily to fastcn her tentacles
upon Russia and ali that is Russia's
which she can reach.
Had Japan been asked to come to
the rescue three months ago the ques-
ton of protection would have been an
swered and the situation made much
easier. But in the interim Germany
and the Bolsheviki have stirred oppo-
! sition and Japan has been made to feel,
or at least 10 hear, that some people
in America harbor suspicious OF her
intentions. The bald fact appears ~
be that if Japan is not now enlisted
in the Ally service in this direction
Germany will profit largely.
She will get the supplies and the
Bolsheviki and be in a position to make
alluring offers to Japan, who has been
fouted by the Allies in this particular
matter. 1t makes most serious an ex
tremely delicate situation. not only as
to our protection against Gcrmany's
penetration of Russia, but as to Amer
ica's future relations with Japan her.
self
1t is not wise that Japan should be
made to feel that Americas doubt Of
her good faith is the chief reason
which restrains us from joining with
Great Britain and France in inviting
and Russia from herself.
Moreover, that opinion does not pre-
vail in America. Failure to appreciate
the urgency Of the present situation
seems to indicate a lack of world sense
as we'll as a misrepresentation of Ally
duty to Russia, of our own duty to our
selves, or to Japan. who has her own
legitimate interests.
1t is a possibility that being face to
f. with ho If %1o
tionary Bolshevik idea into her own
territory and the necessity of main
tanning order on her own frontiers
Japan may be forced by strong ma
tional movement to interfere, even
without mandate from the Allies.
No country can live with revolution at
its door.
We must keep in mind that there
are now interned in Siberia, German
civilians, former commercial agents
and electrical engineers, all of whom
lease through German or Bolshevik
influences or advance would turn loose
| in Siberia an enemy organizing force
of undoubted ability and animus
which could speedily make forrni-
dable army out of the hundreds of
thousands of Austrian prisoners also
in Siberia.
FaClnR lniS SltuAClOH, we HluSC dOal-
don theorizing for practical effort.
The practical thing this moment all
who have real knowledge gained
through years of residence in Russia
and Siberia agree IS to send combined
economic and military expeditions to
Vladivostok and Dalny, taking tools
for men to work with and the neces-
saries of life. Then n money value to
the ruble must be established. At the
present time it has no stability and is
the instrument of gross speculation at
the cost of the people.
1t isn't a question of what we might
prefer to do; it is what we must do
if we would save a perplexing and un-
happy situation. 1t is a choice of two
evils. We must either risk opposition
to the Bolshcviki and save Siberia and
through Siberia Russia by interven
ton. Or, we must risk certain loss in
order to gain approval Of the Bolshe
wiki.
If, for fear of offending the Bolshe-
Wiki, we stay out, Germany wins
Russia, Siberia end perhaps Japan. If
we go in we may lose the Bolshevik,
but we will save Siberia, beat Germany
and "stand by Russia Whereas losing
Bolshevki would have no harmful ef-
feet upon Russia, since it is neither
benencial nor lasting, letting Germany
in would be a permanent evil costing
Russia her Kfe. for there can be no
doubt that Bolshevikism would quickly
yield to Germanism. In short, Russia
would be lost to Boche Kultur and
German trade exploitation.
And we. the Allies, under pretcnse
of keeping on good terms with the
Bolsheviki, would have delivered
Russia to Germany and lost our ally,
Japan. Let us "stand by Russia" in
need as in word.