New-York tribune., 1918-03-03
Washington Non-Commit.
tai as to Japan's Pro-
posed Invasion
Allies Consider
Far East Problem
Answer 10 Toxic May
Hinge on American
Attitude
[Staf Correspondence

w WASHINGTON, March 2.-The jap
anese Embassy received confirmation
to-day Of an unofficial Toxic dispatch
stating that Viscount Motono, the For
elgn Minister, had announced to the
Diet that the government was confer
ring with the Entente Allies on the new
Russian situation and the measures
that ought to be taken to meet it.
1t was learned in a high diplomatic
quarter that eminent Allied statesmen
and soldiers agree that the menace to
the peace Of the Far East constituted
by the widefung invasion of Russia by
German and Austro- Hungarian. armies
makes imperative the establishment Of
an Allied military line in the East, and
that it is practicable only for Japan to
undertake the execution of the project.
There is reason to believe that the
United States will maintain it's pres
cnt neutral" or non-committal atti-
tude toward the proposition, although
SUCH an attitude implies lack of
sympathy with it.. 1t was intimated
in an official Administration quarter
that, far from participating with
territory, the United States very prob
ably would refrain from expressing
any views whatever, rather than in
terposing' any positive opposition to
the enterprise.
Position of United States
This authority said
"The United States has no interest
in the occupation of Vladivostok. The
only vessels we have there are for
patro duty. Russia is big country, and
it is impossible to foresee what will
happen there, but it is very diff
ficult situation. Japan probably feels
that. if Germany captures Petrograd
and continues her advance into Russia.
Japan herself will be attacked unless
the German forces are stopped. and
Japan may lose her spheres of influ-
ence. If Germany does take Petrograd
and Moscow, she might be able to taxa
all Of Russia.
"This country would not be likely to
take part in u Siberian campaign or in
the occupation Of Nladvostock. We
have, in the first place, no transports
in which to send troops to Asia 1t
would be of no use for us to go any
where unless we can go we'll. But if
we went into Siberia the first thing
Germany would say is that we, too,
were going to take a part of Russia,
although, if we went, it would only be
to hold a line. Germany would compare
the invasion with her own advance into
Russia, declaring that she has as much
justification for occupying Russian ter
ritory as the United States could have
There are so many different angles
to the situation that it is difficult to
Gov nv \ }ntIn ohn
for the United States, we are sending
soldiers to France. The war is going
to be won there"
State Department Silent
The State Department has declined to
make any comment on the new Japan
ese question, since it was denied sew
eral days ago that it had been con-
suited on the matter. Subsequently it
was learned that, in reply to an inquiry
from Japan, this government took the
position of Withholding any expression
OF its views
Boris Bakmetieff, the Russian AM
bassador, is in New York and will not
return to this city until Monday. It is
Known. however, that both he and other
prominent Russians in this country are
greatly exercised over the prospect of
japanese occupation Of Amur and their
taking over control of the Trans-Si-
berlan Railway from Vladivostok to
Harbin, with a possible further pene-
tration of Russian territory.
The best information available here
to-day concerning the opinions of Rus
sian diplomats in America and the AL
lied countries was summed up as fol-
lows by prominent Russian military
officcr
as the United States going in with
Japan? No? Then we are most de-
cicedly against it. Has Japan guar
anteed to give up the territory she
plans to occupy? No? Then most GER
tainly We oppose it. We do not know
what Japan's intentions are. Further
more, we cannot see any legitimate rea-
son for the contemplated action.
Likened to Teuton Invasion
"The Russian people are likely to
see no difference between a Japanese
invasion of Russian territory and the
German invasion. The Japanese have
not been invited to enter Russian ter
ritory. The Allies have not been in
yited, either, and it is difficult to rec
cncile their reported APPROVAL of
Japan's prospective action, indeed, their /
partial inspiration OF it, with their
professions of the right OF peoples to
self determination and to the nvio-
ability of another country's territory. |
eve cannot look at the situation ex-
,ept with alarm. The Russian people I
probably will regard the Japanese as !
INVADERS, as enemies, and not as
friends. Whether that fact will have /
any material effect upon their atti-
.ude toward the Entente cause, | do |
lot know. 1t would be very beneficial /
20 the situation in general, however, if |
he powers would give some undertake
rg that they will not countenance the |
,nnexation Of Russian territory by
apan."
In diplomatic circles it was asserted
hat the great concern of England and |
her interest," in the occupation by
Japan of Siberian territory are related
% the defence of India and of China,
and that Frances interests also relate
to China. although at the
same time the interests of those