Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-11-08
JAPS UNWILLING
To OBEY ORDERS
STEVENS ISSUES
VIII Protect Trans-Siberiaq
Railroad and Lives and
Property But Decline To
Listen To Railroad Board,

10y nou,IHe IoIe1,- SPEC - LzArEo wisEl
Toxic, Nov. . Sunday by the Asso-
ciated Press. THE Japanese govern
ment in its reply just forwarded to.
Washington to the American note of
last September complaining of lack
of cooperation by japanese troops in
the operation of the Trans Siberian
railroad, draws a sharp distinction
between the military protection Of the
railroad, which it is unwilling to un-
dertake, and obedience to the orders
and Instructions of the inter-allied
railway commission under John W..
Stevens. or the subsidiary railroad
board, which is in no wise contem-
plated.
The correspondent of the Associated
Press finds that the note, which is
moderate in tone and which as dip
lomatic document bears evidence of
the exceeding care expended upon its
composition, declares that no intor-
nation in the possession of Japan
bears out the contention in the note
of the American government that Jap
anese troops have flatly refused to
protect lives or property of allied
railroad inspectors in the territory
controlled by the Cossack general
Semenoff. The note expresses the
opinion that the American contention
is based upon some misunderstanding
and suggests that the American gov
eminent bring forward any concrete
facts upon which it bases its case. In
this event the Japanese government
would be glad to furnish material
which might explain the japanese
side of the case
Erroneous Reports Out.
1T is q matter or no small regret
that information in the possession Of
the United States in regard to misun-
derstandings and differences of this
kind arising between nationals of the
United States and Japan in Siberia
seems at variance with information
reaching the japanese government
the note observes.
The government wishes especially
to emphasize the fact that the pri-
mary duty Of the military defense is
the defense Of the railway itself, be-
lieVing that this is vital if the railway
is to be operated at all. 1t is thought
too, that the government of the Unit
ed States will recognize the great eff
forts and sacrifices made by the Jap
anese troops in defense of the railway
IL, however, II Is utCldItO III lle
note, the American government thinks
that the allied military forces should
be made subordinate to the interval
lied commission or to the subsidiary
technical board, the japanese gov
eminent regrets to say that it is un-
able to fall in line with that attitude
Apparently desirous that the fore
going statement should not cause
fresh misunderstanding the note con-
tinues:
However, the Japanese govern
ment would in no case insist that
their military forces are under no OBJ
legation to cooperate in forwarding
the general operation of the railroad
The Japanese troops will put forward
all possible efforts to remove any
thing that stands in the way of the
operation of the railroad and will by
no means shut their eyes to the per-
petration of offenses calculated to
endanger the lives and property of in
spectors and engineers"
Nothing Improper in Stand.
Taking up the American references
to the instructions to the Japanese
military concerning non-interference
in case of disputes, the note submits
that there seems to be nothing i'm
proper in this stand. On the contrary,
it thinks that any uncalled for inter-
vention of japanese troops in dis
putes between officials or military
forces of 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 MISUNDERSTANDING
or ill-feeling. It seems evident what
great importance the instructions att
tach to the furtherance of mutual
understanding and cooperation.
ut would, therefore, be wide of the
mark" it is stated. "to allege that in
regard to the general operation of the
railway the japanese troops accept
no obligation for cooperation"
The reply then refers to the modus
vivendi reached by Ambassador Nor
ris at Vladivostok on September %
and to the instructions later given to
the Japanese commanders and regis
tiers the pleasure of the government
that this caused satisfaction to the
American government