The twice-a-week Twin Falls times. (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1916-1918, 1918-03-14

Deepest interest was evinced every
where in Washington today in the
meeting of tn Russian soviet con-
gress, scheduled, after postponement,
to assemble in Moscow. There was
wide division of opinion as to the
action which will be taken, but the
receipt of cheering news from Am
bassador Francis made optimistic
many close to Pesident Wilson, who
nope that the pact viii be rejected.
The soviet will have before it as
surances from the president that the
United States intends to safeguard the
interests of Russia and of the execu-
| tive committee of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor that organized Ia
Dor in the United States is ready to
do all that it can to aid the Russion
peoples. How effective these assur-
ances will be, officials here could not
forecast They hoped however, that
they would do some good
Pending the action of the soviet,
practically all plans which take into
consideration Russia and Russian in
fluences on the war ore halted. The
Siberian question remains open, with
Toxic, Paris, London and Rome still
exchanging messages as to possible
plans
It is possible now to reveal the facts
that the suggestion that Japan inter-
vene in Siberia originated first in
Paris The authorities there were in
receipt of information indicating that
the Germans planned to arm all pris-
oners of war in Siberia and that the
Bolsheviki were not inclined to place
any obstacles in the way.
Exchanges between the Japanese
ambassador in Paris and the French
foreign office resulted in a definite
plan of action being suggested and
then the problem was passed on tc
London, where it was approved or
the face of the information furnished
by France 1t was not until Presi
dent Wilson called for and secured {
complete report that the fact was re
vealed that China really held the Ike,
of the situation in her hands through
the control at Harbin and then wheI
the United States made it plain tha
it could not sanction any move whicl
so closely resembled conquest. Toxic
decided to withhold action pending de
YelOpmentS.
France maintains her attitude of un
qualified approval of the plan for Jap
anese expedition into Siberia. Grea
Britain still is considering the pos
sible effect of Intervention on Rus
sia and whether it would not be useI
by the Germans as an argument whicl
might greatly injure the allied cause
The United States is standing pat ol
it's refusal to assent to any move, al
though it still holds that Siberia clear
ly is within the Japanese sphere o
action and If her interests actuall,
r right to act as the necessity war
I rants.
1 Diplomatic advices from Toxic in
. dicate that Viscount Ishii, the newl
appointed Japanese ambassador to tn
= United States, shortened his farewell
5 in order that he may get to Washing
ton at as early period as possible
5 The date of his expected arrival |
z not revealed for strategic reasons. bu
4 officials hone that it will be within
. comparatively short time. There
g no disputing that the fact that Japa
= at the present time has no ambassa
\ dor here. is embarrassing to both gov
r ernments.
1 rot occur, nor omitted anything as
r eential IN an understanding of Wha