Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-11-08
JAPS REPLY

ic document bears evidence Of the ...
ceeding care expended upon its comm.
sition, declares that no informa,jon
the possession Of japanese bears mr.,
the contention In the note OF the An.
erican government. tnat japanese troops
Rave fatty refused to protect lives q,
property Of allied railroad inspec,o-.
in the territory controlled by the Cos.
eack general-Semenoff. The not. .r
pressed the opinion that the Am.rc.,
contention is based upon some ro,sD,-
Outstanding and suggests that the Am.
erican government bring forward AM
concrete facts upon which i. ba.s.
Its case. In this event the Jaua,.,.
government would be glad to furn,s,
material which might explain the Jan.
anese ride o. the case.
The government. the note goes =.
to say. wishes to especially emot asiy.
the fact that the primary duty @, n.
military il the defense Of the railx.v
itself, believing that this is vital !.
the railway Is to BE- operated az all
It Is thought. too, that the governme,,
of the United States viii recognize tbs
great efforts and sacrifices made by tho
Japanese troops In defense Of the ran.
way.
If, however. II Is declared in the ro.s
the American government thinks tba,
the allied military forces should la
made subordinate to the inter.a,,isd
commission or to the subsid airy ,echni.,
cal board, the japanese government re-,
grets to say that it is APPARENT do.
sirous that the foregoing Statement
should no. cause fresh misunderstood,
ings. the note continues:
However. the japanese govern.
merlt would in no case insis. tina,
their military forces are unde- no
obligations to cooperate in forward
ing the general operation oS the rail.
road. The Japanese troops will mt
forward operation of the railroad and
will be no means shut their ewes TO
the preparation of offenses calcu-
lated to endanger the lives and prop,
erty of inspectors and engineers"
Taking up the American references>
to the instructions to the Japanese
military concerning non-interference
case of disputes, the note submits
that there seems to be nothing in.
proper in this stand. On the contra.
~. it thinks that any uncal!ed for
Intervention by japanese troops in,
disputes between officials or military
forces CT the allied Powers is liable
to create a grave situation, pregnant
with the most undesirable conse.
quences. The object Of the japanese
instructions being to avoid the crea-
ton Of any cause Of misunderstood
ing or il-feeling, it seems evident
what great Importance the ins.ruc-
tons attach to the furtherance Of
mutual understanding and cooper
alton.
1T would therefore be wide of the
mark" it is said. ito allege that in
regard to the general operation Of
the railway the japanese troops ac-
cept no obligation for cooperation.
The reply then refers 70 the modus
vivendi reached by Ambassador Nor
ris at Nladivostok on Sept. :. and 10
the instructions later given 10 the
Japanese commanders and registers
the pleasure of the government that
this caused Satisfaction to the
American government.
The communication closes wa
discussion Of the mission cf the lew
diplomatic representative o. -apan
at the headquarters Of the all-Pus-
sian government IN SibeIia. Cunt
Tsunetada Kato. 1t gives assurances
that Count Kato VIII ;o;n in a"y ac-
ton considered necessary 20 secure
the proper working OF tie railway
and will strive TO further the eco
nomic and political Incorporation Of
Siberia. The note, on the conclusion
voices the hope that Count Kato's
efforts will contribute to the promo
tion Of mutual understanding and
cooperation among the allied ma
tionals in Siberia. :
Copies Of the reply have been sent
to England. France, Italy, China and
Russia.