The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1918-03-06
u. S. REFUSES
TO APPROVE OF
MOVE IN SIBERIA
Japan Told 1t Must Make Own
DeCiSiOn-America Won't
Interfere.
ENGLAND and FRANCE Agree
Details of Presidents Reply to Tokyo
Government Withheld-Japan
Fears German Invasion
of Siberia.

washington, March 6.-President
the United States had not given assent
to Japanese Intervention in Russia.
White House officials, however, were
disturbed over a published report that
statement had been authorized that
the United States was not In accord
with the attitude of the allies toward
the Japanese plans. 1t was explained
that no statement had been authorized
except that the United States had not
given it's assent to the action under
consideration.
Whatever the purport of the note
we have sent in answer to the propo-
sition to which England and France
gave their unqualified Endorsement, It
Is certain that Japan cannot extract
from it any assurance that we ap-
prove of the invasion of Russia
against her wishes.
This does not mean that we have
protested, though the discussions over
Japan's plan and the complications 1t
involved even attained to that phase.
+ The best guess-and nothing better
than a guess is possible-is that the
United States has practically told
Japan that she must judge for herself.
the necessity for action in the far
East, and that while we have no doubt
Of the sincerity Of her purposes OF
guarding the allied interests in Asia,
1t would help matters If she made 4
declaration of her intentions for the
sake Of quieting apprehension In Rus
sia.
All Tongues Sealed.
The state department would offer
no comment on the situation.
There was a cabinet meeting at
which the Japanese offer and our re-
ply were discussed for two hours and
the cabinet members would not say
word about it.
At the White House no light was
vouchsafed beyond the simple fact
that we had not assented.
On every hand the details of the
portentous note was guarded.
Japan Will Go Ahead.
Japan will go ahead with her pro-
gram; she would have liked to have
in her enterprise, but she can get
along with the countenance Of the
English and French, and the neutral
ity of the Americans.
She offered to take charge of the
munitions at Vladivostok and the har-
hor, and so much of the Trans-Siber-
ian railroad as she deemed necessary
for her purposes as part Of her con-
tract to safeguard allied interests on
her side Of the world. If she can't
go to Siberia as the representative Of
syndicate she is prepared to go
there for her own protection.
The world moves fast nowadays.
Japan reasons, and while the appear
ance of Germany In Siberia seems like
a distant possibility, 1t is no more in
credible than her approach to Pstro-
grad appeared year ago.
Intervention Agreed7
London, March 6.-The Evening
News says the question Of japanese
intervention in Siberia has been set
tied and that all the allies as we'll as
the United States have agreed to i'm
mediate action to safeguard the In
terests of the entente powers.
Japan's Cabinet Busy.
Tokyo, March 6.-The Russian sftu-
alton is completely absorbing the
press and the public. There have
! been frequent meetings of the Japa-
nese cabinet, at which, doubtlessly, the
entire question was considered most
carefully with full realization of the
serious nature of the responsibilities
involved.