The sun., 1919-07-26
WILSON TELLS
WHY US. TROOPS
AREIN SIBERIA
After 80 Days Sends First
Reply to Senate's Long
Series of Queries.
RECALL NOT PROMISED
Gen. Graves Has 10000 Men
to Aid Stevens Only on
Railroad Protection.
WORKING WITH JAPANESE
President Calls Presence Nee
essary to Aid Nation Which
Helped Allies.
RECALL NOT PROMISED
WORKING WITH JAPANESE
spec,ar De.potcA 10 rns svs.

WASHINGTON, July 25.-President
Wilson transmitted to-day to the
Senate in the form OF q letter to the
presiding officer his answer to the
persistent clamor voiced in that body
for light ON the duties, purposes and
intentions Of the Government with
regard to the maintenance Of a mill
tary force in Siberia.
AS far back as last midwinter a
series of resolutions Of inquiry was
started. Senator johnson (Cal) was
the prime mover in the effort to ascer-
tain why an American military force
was continued in active service in the
region OF vladivostok. Last month
the Senate, acting upon one Of Senator
Johnson's resolutions, requested, in
definite fashion, an explanation from
the President.
The johnson resolution passed the
Senate thirty-two days ago. The re-
ply to-day, in the face Of the con-
tinued failure of the State Department
| to answer Senate inquiries officially
or otherwise presented, created the
| impression among Republicans that
perhaps a new era was being inaugu-
| rated by the Administration with re-
gard to the furnishing Of Information.
1t marks the first response on the part
of the Administration to any Of the
| direct interrogatories with which the
White House and State Department
have been flooded for many months.
Many other Queries Unnoticed.
But there remain to be answered
numerous other questions of higher
import than the johnson interroga-
tories regarding American forces. in
! Russia. The Senate Foreign Relations
Committee is still without any OF the
documentary matter collateral to the
peace treaty sought by resolutions
passed more than a week ago or even
| an acknowledgment from the State
Department that the requests have
been received and will be honored at
the earliest moment possible, as has
been the unbroken precedent Of all Ad-
ministrations previous to that Of Mr..
Wilson.
The letter received to-day covers in
it's explanation the whole course Of
America in dealing with the problem
of siberia's struggle against Bolshe-
vism and the distress attendant on
disrupted communication lines, insult
ficient crops and relaxed Industrial ac-
tivity incident to the protracted period
of war.
According to the President the
principal function of the American
troops now serving at the eastern ex-
tremity of Asia is the protection Of the
Russian Railway Service Corps. an or
ganization of American railway ex-
perts under the direction of John F..
Stevens, which has been assisting the
siberians in keeping open their rail-
way, at present the only open line of
communication between European
Russia and the rest of the civilized
world. according to Mr.. Wilson.
sympathy with KoIchak.
Without going out OF his way to
say SO, the President conveyed in his
letter a very persistent intimation
that the anti-Bolshevist government
headed by Admiral Kolchak has the
sympathetic interest Of the allied
world in general, including the United
States. The Presidents letter follows:
For the Information OF the Senate,
and In response to the resolution adopted
June 23, 1919, requesting the President
TO inform the Senate, II not incompatible
with the pubic interest. Of the reasons
for sending United States soldiers to
Siberia. the duties that are to be per-
formed by these soldiers. how long they
are to remain. and generally to advise
the Senate OF the policy of the United
States Government in respect to Siberia
and the maintenance OF United States
soldiers there, l have the honor to say
that the decision to send American
troops to Siberia was announced to the
press on August s, 191S. In a statement
from the acting Secretary of State. OF
which a copy is enclosed.
This measure was taken in copjunc-
tion with Japan and In concert of pur-
pose with the other allied Powers. first
Of all to save the Czecho-slovak armies,
which were threatened with destruction
by hostile armies apparently organized
by and often largely composed of enemy
prisoners OF war. The second purpose
in view was TO steady any efforts OF
the Russians at self-defence, or the
establishment of law and order In which
they might be willing to accept as
sistance.
Two regiments OF infantry. with
auxiliary troops-about 5000 electives
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