New-York tribune., 1918-03-02
Japan, Alone,
May Be Allowed
10 Save Siberia
Entente and America Said
To Be Near Agreement
Leaving Task to Toxic

LONDON, March 2-According to
The Daily Mail" it is understood that
the Allies have decided to ask the Jan.
anese to take any steps necessary for
'he protection of the Allies in the Far
East.
Stress is laid on the fact that the
British and Japanese governments hold
that Japan's Intervention IN the Rus
sian affairs is not to be construed
as an act of hostility to Russia or the
Russian government
Its purpose is to safeguard menaced
Allied interests and to protect stores
and munitions at Vladivostok and to
assist Russia to Tighten and eventually
hft the burden of the German yoke.
WASHINGTON, March 1.-lndica-
tlons now point to an agreement be-
tween the Entente powers and America
TO conlde to Japan alone the task of
taking such measures as may be neces-
sary to combat German aggression and
influence IN Siberia and to protect the
military stores at Vladivostok
No final conclusion has been reached.
however, and it was said in high Of
hclal quarters tonight that conditions
were: changing so rapidly and so many
ntw factors were entering into the
problem that it would be unsafe to pre-
dict overnight what the issue might be.
Exchanges are proceeding rapidly
between the Entente governments and
Washington and the matter was con-
sidered at to-days Cabinet meeting.
1t is understood that the State De-
partment is being slowly but seadilv in
huenced TO accept the view which seems
to obtain in Great Britain and France
and possibly in Italy.
Single Power Is Favored
That is that a single power. with an
efficient army and navy within easy
reach Of Siberia and not otherwise en-
ployed, and acting in conformity with
general agreement, might be better
able to deal with the situation than any
international force, such as was at first
contemplated.
There is reason to believe that the
British, French and Japanese govern
ments are in agreement upon the OBJ
Jectives that would be pursued by
Japanese military forces in Siberia,
and that the three governments have
decided that, in view Of the threatened
peace of the Far East arising from the
complete collapse of Russia and the
spread of anarchy in that country,
measures ought to be taken to protect
the Trans-Siberan Railway from
VIadvostok to Harbin.
Japanese and Chinese troops are eX-
pected to act jointly in Northern Man
churlan territory, Japan being unwill-
ing to permit Chinese troops to oper-
ate independently there, owing to the
Japanese contention that China has not
possessed actual authority in Northern
Manchuria, which to the present time
has been Russian sphere, and that
China's suzerainty over that region has
been only nominal.
Great Stores Along Railway
Scores Of millions sSf dollars worth
principally war materials, arc at
Vladivostok and other points on the
TRANSIT berian Railway to and includ
ing Harbn. These supplies were
shipped from both Japan and the Unit
ed States. In addition to guns, NUM-
tons and other purely military sup
plies, they embrace shoes, clothing,
foodstuffs, railway materials and other
commodities. There is believed to be
danger of these falling into the Ger
mans hands or being appropriated by
lawless bands.
Another condition demanding the
protection Of the railway was declared
to-day to be the dependency of Ilarbin
and other interior points upon the rail
way. Vladivostok itself has sparsely
populated hinterland, the country be
hind it being wild and sparsely inhab
tied by Tartars. Several millions OF
people in the Harbin region, however,
are relying upon the continued opera
ton Of the railroad, which, it is held,
can only be afforded by Japan
The possibility Of an initial move
ment by Japanese forces in Siberia
being the forcrunner of tho execution
Of a theoretical plan Of campaign
worked out by the japanese General
Staff anG founded upon the feat Of
Gcnghis Khan, who many centuries ago
led Asiatic hordcs across the Russian