The Washington herald., 1919-03-30
Japanese Policy Reversed--Nation Wants
Monroe Doctrine of East---Immigration
Issue No Longer Matter of Controversy

all blame. The fault they say lies
In the machinstions of Gen. Takist-
INA, who himself in person directed
In Siberia for months. military sc-
tivities and propaganda designed 10
increase the anarchy in Russia and
Deprive of success American efforts
10 bring order and peace. Tskish-
ina was finally withdrawn in NO
ytmber by Toxic after most grave
representations made in Washing
ton by Secretary Lansing to Wis
count Ishii.
Lansing Called Japan Down.
At the same time Lansing called
attention to the fact that the Jap
anese had sent approximately 10000
troops into Siberia, instead of the
1000 men whom Japan and each
OF the other great allies. as well as
China, had agreed to land. The
war party had taken the bit in its
teeth and carried out this military
occupation, which was causing
grave friction in Siberia, but about
which the mass OF the japanese
people knew nothing. The Ameri-
can protest caused the withdrawal,
hrst Of $4,000 japanese troops ana
idlcf Ol lttVOu more.
But these orders were not given
until a serious fight had taken
place in Toxic. between the pence
and war parties, during those No
vember days when the eyes OF the
world were on the German motor
cars with the white flags that
brought Ludendor1's sword to
Foch. The war party wanted TO
defy America, throw of the mask.
proclaim a japanese protectorate
over Eastern Siberia and assume
the control of the whole Far East.
The moderates, helped by all the
banks and business interests.
pleaded for consideration for
Washington's remonstrances. They
won.
Thought Germany Would Win.
1t may be many years before the
facts as to the historic conversa-
tions between Lansing and Ishii in
Washington are made public. How
far Lansing went in his remarks
my informant does not know. The
circumstances surrounding the situ-
alton in Siberia, the propaganda
and military operations fomented by
Takishima. and the dramatic char
acter of the sudden and secret with
drAwal of most of the Japanese
army in Siberia. suggest that Lam
sing went fairly far.
The policy of the war party. I un-
derstand, has not changed since No
vember. despite the shock 10 them
of the complete defeat Of Germany.
Their theory has always been that
the longer the Western powers kept
on bleeding each other and weaken
ing themselves the greater would be
the relative strength of Japan at
the end of the war. Consequently.
the complete and overwhelming
triumph of the allies coincident
with the growth into a first class
military power of the hitherto de-
spised United States was a severe
blow to the japanese fre-eater. and
has weakened for the time his pO-
Iitical strength at home
Americans may well be proud OF
the fact that the principle weapon
used by the moderates in Toxic to
defeat the war party during this No
vember crisis was their demonstra-
tion of the transparent honesty and
good faith OF the American govern
ment in its desire to bring about a
true and just world settlement
Immigration Not An Issue.
To return to the policy Of the
japanese peace delegates here in
Paris, who represent the moderate
or government party. They are pre-
tending 70 be concerned about the
Pacific Coast immigration question
There are two reasons why Japan
has in reality decided to drop this
old bone OF contention forever. One
is that Japan recognizes that the
new military strength of the United
States renders harmless the old bogy
of a japanese attack on the Western
States, and has no intention Of try
ing to irritate America in any way
concerning issues on the American
side of the Pacific Ocean.
The other and more important