Evening star., 1918-06-12
SIBERIAN SITUATION
CLOSELY WATCHED
America, However, Has Not
Changed Attitude on
. Intervention.

Despite persistent rumors that mill
tary action in Siberia by the allies
with American support or approval
is imminent, it was learned that no
agreement has been reached on any
feasible plan for positive action in
regard to Russia.
The attitude of the State Depart
ment Is what it has been since the
subject was first touched. There has
been no change in the policy Of the
American government in dealing with
It Is the official view here that this
attitude must remain unchanged until
there is further development of great
Importance in Russia.
An authoritative explanation was
given after the Russian embassy had
transmitted to the State Department
the allies to send an expeditionary
force to Russia to repel the Germans.
forwarded by the central committee
of the cadet party. The committee,
which speaks for the powerful Rus
sian constitutional democratic forces,
asked that such an expedition be
under international control, to guar
antee the rights of its country.
Watching Developments.
Recent developments. not only in
old Russia, but in the Ukraine and
in Siberia, and a growing spirit of
unrest in China and Japan, with in
creasing pressure in the capitals Of
the entente powers for some sort Of
concerted action have not been over
looked by officials here, and the de-
velopments of each day are being
studied with the closest attention.
From contradictory reports which the
cables and mails bring daily to Wash
ington 1t is difficult for the oficials
Of the situation as a whole.
1t is evident the bolsheviki govern
ment now is meeting with strong
opposition. not only from the old
conservative elements in Russia, but
also from certain powerful factions
just as inimical to the restoration Of
the empire as the most pronounced
red Russia. OF these the cadets. or
constitutionalists, are understood to
be the most in evidence, not because
of their numbers. but for the reason
that they embody in their principles
the moderate views which are calcu-
lated to appeal most strongly to the
great mass of the Russian peasantry
and to a considerable portion Of the
workingmen, who are slowly reacting
from the extreme ideas of license
and impossible social and economic
conditions which they accepted with
out question in the first days Of the
against the Kerensky regime.
In the Ukraine, technically sepa-
rated from Russia by the Brest-
Litovsk treaty, the people are loathe
to break on the old ties.
and there is a distinct and powerful
reaction against the German Dictator
ship. The Cossacks are reported to be
ready to overturn the new govern
ment by revolution If not restrained
by the German army.
In Siberia the spirit Of revolt at in
tervaIs flares up brightly whenever
the Cossack leader, Gen. semenoff.
bolshevik troops. Meanwhile the
many Russian army officers and
statesmen who fed from European
Russia into Siberia and China are
the idea Of an Independent
republic and giving the boil
with thesr control Of the Siberian
railroad.
In the south Of Russia the advent Of
British troops from Mesopotamia into
the Caucacus has given great moral
and material aid to the people there.
ance Of the cession Of their country
made by the bolsheviki in the Brests
Litovsk treaty.
Finally, in the far north Of Russia,
on the Arctic ocean. where the British
and French marines now hold the port
Of Kola and some miles Of the rail-
road running southwark to Petrograd,
there is the nucleus of an interna-
tional force which may have a pro-
found effect upon the German mill
tary campaign by gathering a SUM-
cient number Of Russians willing to
resist the action OF the bolshevik
in surrendering part Of
the Mourman country to Finland,
with means Germany
All of these developments are being
closely watched, and have been the
subject Of many exchanges Of views
between the entente powers and
America and Japan. AS has been
stated, some of the entente powers
feel that the time now has arrived for
Intervention, but this view is not
shared by the United States Eovern-
ment. for the reason that no prac-
ticable plan has yet been advanced
that would insure the two objects
which alone, it is held, would tustffy
interference in the internal AFFAIRS
Of Russia.