Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-08-15
MORE LAUNDERING

~ NE of the returned American
u representatives in Siberia is
responsible for the statement
popular of all nations with the ST.
berians when we landed troops at
Vladivostok after joining the Allies,
but that now this country is hated
from Ekaterimburg to the eastern
coast and all because we made
promises to the Siberians and then
did practically nothing to fulfill the
expectations of the people. He says
further that Japan is rapidly closing
the door to American trade in all
parts Of Siberia and that our coun-
try is under suspicion because the
help that was promised has not been
given. Here is how Mr.. Norton, the
acting director of the Russian Divi-
sion on the Committee of Public In
formation sums up the situation:
What faith siberans still held
IN this country was DESTROYED by
wholesale breaking of promises.
Every American in Siberia for any
purpose. when asked what Ameri-
ca was going to do for Siberia,
would make ambitious promises
, in behalf of the War Trade Board.
: None of these promises was ever
fulfilled.
We were going to feed and
clothe every man. woman and
, child in Siberia. according to
! American promises. Then the War
Trade Board went out of exist
ence, with nothing done.
such promises by individuals
might not have caused so much
damage, but the War Trade Board
officially asked the Committee on
Public Information to get data on
the needs OF the multitude OF VIII
lagos in siberia. in the way of
clothing and other necessaries.
This was laboriously gathered by
the Russians at our request and
transmitted to the Publicity Com
mittee, but by the time the data
were received the War Trade
Board had gone out of business
The Committee on Public Infor-
nation in Siberia was kept busy
from then on. explaining why
they took such information. II
they didn't want to do anything
with it.
The harm done to the United
increased by the fact that the
United States had no definite
policy in Siberia, and the Siber-
ians were kept in bewilderment
as to what were our real inten-
tions They could not make out
what we were doing and were all
the more suspicious on that ac-
count
So it appears that the absence of a
policy in Russia has still further
alienated the traditional friendship
of a people who looked upon Amer
leans as their faithful allies who
were worthy of trust and to whom
the Siberians might look with con-
fidence for counsel and support in
the most tragic period of the coun-
try's history Instead of faith in our
country there is now throughout
Russia, according to Mr.. Norton, the
accredited agent of the Committee
on Public Information, a feeling of
widespread disappointment over the
happenings of the last few months.
American statesmen have pro-
tested, without avail, against the lack
of definite policy respecting Russia
and now at the eleventh hour the
people of the United States will ma
turally regard with amazement the
sudden energy displayed in the
sending of guns and ammunition for
the rslicf of the Kolchak govern
ment. the only semblance of rational
authority in the former domain of
the Car. Ono unfortunate develop
meat has followed another and we
seen, to have increased at every
step the dislike of Russians of
everything American.
1t is not improbable that the jap
anese, with their clever propaganda,
are at the bottom of the sudden
change from n friendly attitude to
one of open hostility to the United
states, but the open door" is being
closed in way that is purely orien-
tai in its subtlety and extremely dis
cstrous in effect to American trade.