The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-10-09
]. :. AND JAPAN
PLAN MENACE Of
SIBERIAN ROAD
Negotiations Under Way Fol-
lowing Obstacles EnCOun-
tered in Effort to Facilitate
InteraIIied Control.

TOXIC, Oct. ?. (By the Associated
neutrality-suspicious. are under way be-
tween the governments of the United
States and Japan concerning the admin
istration Of the trans-Sioerian railroad.
This has been made necessary, 1t is
said. in high diplomatic quarters, be-
cause Of the fact that interallied con-
troll OF the railway under the supervi-
sion OF John +. Stevens, head OF the
American railway commission to Rus
STA, recently has encountered many OBJ
staeles.
Following an official protest of several
months ago by representatives Of the
allies at Vladivostok against iuterfer-
ence by Gen. Semenoff. the anti-Bol-
shevik leader In Siberia, there apparent
" have developed recently mlsunder-
standings between the American and
Japanese authorities and troops con-
corning the conception of what inter
allied management means. Engineers
under Mr.. Stevens claim that in the
sector patrolled by the Japanese forces
they have not received the protection
and cooperation for which the original
agreement provided.
II Is asserted that the situation had
gone SO far that the American govern
ment early In September sent a formal
note 10 the Japanese government in
which II was pointed out that the Jap
anese troops had failed to protect the
lives and property or the railroad en-
glneers and had failed to cooperate
with them In the broad spirit Of con-
Quoting the railroad In the interest of
the Russian people. by permitting the
transportation OF food supplies which
were so necessary 10 the Russians.
United States Stand Firm.
The American note frankly pointed
out, II Is said, that unless effective CO.
operation could be arranged the United
States might feel obliged to withdraw
its troops from Siberia altogether; that
should a Withdrawal be decided upon
the American government might feel
compelled to make public the reasons
for the withdrawal.
The note emphasized how unfortunate
q withdrawal would be to the interests
Of the people Of Siberia, who were de-
pendent on the railroads for the neces-
stiles Of life. 1t referred to the new
idea Of international cooperation
throughout the world. as against the
old idea Of the balance Of W and
Is said inferentially to have voiced
the fear that lack of cooperation by
Japan might lead to the impression that
Japan was supporting the old ideas of
II -interest and ACKNOWLEDGMENT, which
It was confidently hoped the world had
abandoned.
II ~ uHueFstoou tHdl Ine american
communication which has not been
published here, caused something akin
to a commotion In diplomatic circles,
II Is asserted that the American gov
eminent forwarded copies OF the com
m%untcation to Great Britain and France
and probably also to Italy and China.
The impression prevails In diplomatic
circles here that the matter is one es.
peclally concerning what might be
called the military branch OF the Jap
anese government. Already the ques-
tfon has been taken up vigorously by
the military authorities, who apparent.
ly are showing every desire to fulfill
Americas conception of cooperation.
Gen, OF, who recently Succeeded Gen.
r. Kikuzo Otani as commander Of the
Japanese forces In Siberia, has issued
orders dealing with the situation and
STIMULATING that there must be effective
cooperation.
Seek Understanding.
Authoritative Japanese with whom the
correspondent of the Associated Press
talked today declared that the mis-
understandings In Siberia were due,
fundamentally to the difficulties of the
East and West to understand each
other They urged patience in working
out the Siberian problem. They re-
ferred 10 alleged intrigues prevalent
among the Russians In siberia as be-
ing responsible for many OF the mis-
understandings. The Russians, they
say, inflamed the American troops
against the Japanese, and similarly told
false stories to the Japanese about the
Americans. The result was that the
Japanese, Who were trying to do their
duty as they saw 1t, were misjudged.
These officials denied every allega-
ton that Japan was backing Gen. SEM
enoft or using him as a pawn to further
| IanuAaga infhpAgtu Thay nSnragan1 tla
opinion that the situation was not n
serious one and said they believed il
would be permanently and amicably ad-
iugted,