The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-03-06
America Has Had No COmmu-
nication With japan About 1t.
All Dealings Have Been and
VIII Be Thru Great Britain.
STRENGTHEN DEMOCRACY AIM
Wilson's JudiciOus Handling Is
Guard Against Autocracy.
Helps His Plan of Spreading
Democrat Ideas in Austria.

Washington, March 6.-Administra-
ton officials are somewhat disturbed
at the various interpretations being
placed on the attitude of the govern
ment toward Japan's prospective
action in Siberia.
The statement that the United States
is in accord in principle with Japan's
plans, supposing always that action is
necessary, has been interpreted in
some dispatches to mean that the
United States has assented to the plan.
and the further statement that the
United States has not assented has
been construed in others to mean that
the government has withheld its as
sent.
Hasn't Asked U. S. Approval.
These various statements are all
generally regarded as play upon
words at a time when official an
situation is being withheld. 't
Japan, so far as can be learned, has
never asked the approval of the United
States to her plans consequently there
is nothing for the United States to
assent to. On the other hand, the fact
that the United States. under the cir
cumstances, is not asserting to the
plan is not to be construed, IN the
absence of official announcement to
that effect, that assent has been with
held in the diplomatic sense of the
term. The United States has been ad-
vised of Japan's feeling thru Japazi's
ally, Great Britain, and these two gov
ernments are discussing the situation
in the light of the Anglo-Japanese
agreement for the preservation of a
status in the far east.
1t has been pointed out to state
department officials that the Anglo
japanese pact is essentially conserva-
tive IN spirit and that as far as con-
~ Ter 1rl1o fer n
sive action on the part of either Great
Britain or Japan with the purpose of
lextending their territorial possession
IN the Far East, the purpose is di-
rectly opposite and aimed to conserve
the present status of both nations.
Has Grounds for Fear.
To this end it was found necessary
| to pledge each to combine to resist
any other nation that might attack
| either of them in the east Reports
| reaching japan from many quarters
| in Siberia have convinced the Japanese
government that just such an attack
| is to be feared from Germany, if not
| directly, then by stirring up the Boil
seviki i'll Siberia. Whether this ap-
prehension is well founded is declared
| TO be entirely within the judgment of
the japanese themselves, tho it is
| probable they would feel it necessary
| TO convince their special ally, Great
Britain, of the fact before taking ac-
| ton. Having reached decision. how
ever, all that it would be necessary
| for Japan to do in regard to other
nations would be, as a matter of cour-.
| tcsy, to inform them of her purposes
| AS Japanese special ally, Great Brit
| ain is represented as having confi-
| dence in Japanese intentions. and has
sought 10 impart that confidence to
the United States, not with a view to
seeking any active cooperation in a
Siberian campaign, but simply to allay
any feeling of apprehension that might
| deve op in this country that Japan
/ interds to extend her sovereignty over
| Siberia permanently.
| u. S. Won't Mix in 1t.
1t is believed that the state depart
| :nent has been convinced on this
point but does not consider il neces-
| sary to record itself either affirma-
| lively or negatively.