New-York tribune., 1919-11-08
Japan Refuses
To Take Orders
From Stevens
Answer to L. S. Note Chars-
ing Lack of Cooperation
in Siberia Holds Policy
TO Protecting Railroad
Note Is Friendly in Tone
Refusal of Troops to Pro-
tcct Property III Semc-
noff Di~srics Is Denied

-Orl0 W 6pv The Associated
0ross The Japanese eovcrnrent IN
is rep'v Just forwarded to Washing
tor 70 the American note of last Sep
.ember. complaining Of lack of CO.
operation by Japanese troops IN tho
opera,lon OF the Trans Siberian rail.
road, draws & sharp distinction be
tween the military protection OF the
railroad, which il is willing to un-
dertake. and obedience to the orders
snd instructions Of the inter Allied
railway commission under John F. Ste
Nens OF the subsidiary railway board.
vrich IS in nowise contemnlated
Ire CORES ncndent of The ASsoci-
ated Tress finds the note. vhicA is
.1ocer1tc I'D tone and which rs q din-
iomatc document bears evidence e
tre exceeding care expended upon Its
composition. declares 10 Information
in possession of JaDaneso bar, on.
thN contention in the note Of the
A',erlcan government that JaNanese
troops Hatly have refused % protect
lives or property o. Allied railroad
inspectors IN the territory controlled
b the Cossack general. Seneror. The
noe expresses the opinion that the
American contention IS based Upon
some misunderstancing and suggests
that ire American government brirp
i.sg'srd a7N concrete facts upon which
= bases It's case. In this event the
!aPaa1ese government would be elad
T. t-tEis0 material which might cX-
pan see japanese SIDE of t.e case
Varying Reports Received
IT IS matter CT no small regret
;hat f-ormat.eN ii the possession Of
re lHi. eG states in regard to lA3sen-
derStaa1 IS and differences Of his
s7c az g between nationals of .ho
laHed states and Janan I'm s IBERIA
ssens a variance witn information
reaching the Japanese government"
4ne A1e1lcan government. the rotc
Foes en- -o sa-. appears to baAave the
: paaese e4t e1fl1 emit understands t'iat
IT,, protection OF TIE lraes-S te~lan
rs.lway tem IS limited 20 safesaard-
'1s ne r4.-"aN and keeping me line
open, entailng 10 ob tgatlon whatso-
efer for cooperation by JaUanesa
troops N tertaerlug rhe general rail-
"ar 1lan i. the expression, general
oaerat or and railway plan mean.
nssiees TIE defense = the railway II
SCI. slca matters as sIccoring ran
~aT r-pectocs III ease Of emergency.
20 ,49A saE.a : Tat the Japan
'-e ~ forces are and have been
eeFo' -aelr efforts TO tho further
ance ot t0c operation o. the railroad
nan
Ito ecrernrent wishes especially 70
e'1p7.s'ze ,he fac- that lre primary
g.. The military is the lc.ors
sire '@i-way l-se.f, believing tais
L the "a "ay IS to be 9p-
e.f AT all l. IS thought. t03. the
Tsstrlent q the United States viii
!,r--.ze he great efforts and sac
Fcrs made by the japanese troops
u Tense O. the railway
Authority OF Commission Denied
r. however, II IS declared in the
zoe re American government thinks
'ae All cd military forces should be
made subordinate 70 tie inter-Aliied
comm sslOn or 10 the subsidiary tech-
= al board. tho Japalese government
IL yre-s 10 say Is Unable 20 agree
= tAat attitude Apparently desir-
oas that the torcgo eg statement should
not cause FRESH understand the
note .centirlcs
However, the Japanese government
you'd Ia 10 case insist that their mlli-
iafF forces 4se under no ob cation TO
~ petate 2. Forwarding rne genera.
operation of fne raj road The Iapan-
u -9F7 Wi lt- l0iW1FG an pps l.
BE- efforts 70 remove anything that
stands i'm the vav of the operation OF
tie railroad. and NIL by no means shut
fhelr eyes 10 the preparation OF Of
lenses calculated to enQauger the lives
eni property Of inspectors and en-
g-neers."
Taking Up American references 10
t7e Instructions TO the Japanese mill
Try concerning non-iaterference in
oase u disputes, the note submits there
seems 70 be n9thng proper in This
sfard on the contrary it thinks any
unlsl4e 4ea-ior intervention by Japanese
troop u disputes between officials or
military forces oi the Allied powers IL
liable 10 create q grave situation, preg-
r-rl with undes raole Consequences.
Tae object Of the Japanese instruc-
tons being to avoid the creation Of any