The sun., 1919-01-15
7 NATIONS TO RUN
SIBERIAN RAILWAYS
Agreement for Control Of Two
Great Systems Has Been
Concluded.
RUSSIAN WILL BE CHIEF
John +. Stevens, Now in Far
East, to Have Technical
Authority.
RUSSIAN WILL BE CHIEF

WASHINGTON. Jan. 14.--An agree
ment for control OF the Trans-Siberian
and Chinese Eastern railroads by an
interallied committee virtually has been
concluded and Ambassador Morris ut
Toxic has been instructed by the. Ameri-
can Government to proceed to Vladi-
vostok TO participate in the working out
OF details. The State Department issued
this statement:
The State Department has been ad-
vised that an understanding has been
reached in Toxic regarding the pro-
posed restorption OF the efficiency Of
tho Trans-Siberian Railway, including
the Chinese Ea stern Railway. and that
the proposed plan Gill be submitted
to this Government through the jap
anese Ambassador in washington.
In brief the proposal Is that there
shall be an intcrall,od committee under
the presidency of a Russian. this COM
mittee to consist Of one representative
Of each OF the following nationalities:
Russia, China. Japan, United states,
Great Britain, France and Italy.
Under this committee there will be
established two boards-first. tech
meal board on which Mr.. Stevens will
eerve. and second, a military board.
To Present Japan's Plan.
viscount Ishii the Japanese Amba ssa =
dor, will call on acting Secretary Polk
tomorrow to present Japan's plan.
At the japanese Embassy to-day 1t
was said the Trans-Siberian Railroad Is
now free from interruption east OF
Baikal. tho forces OF the associated ma
tons maintaining order up to that point.
Negotiations between the japanese
and American Governments for some
form OF interallied control OF both the
Trans-Siberian and Chinese Eastern
railroads have been under way for some
time. While Japan has not exercised
control as such. she has maintained a
military guard. and it was said that
during transportation OF her army to
Siberia military supplies had priority
over commerce.
John F.. Stevens. tho American en-
Kineer who will head the technical
board OF the Interallied committee. wen,
to Russia n year ago with corps OF
American railroad engineers to survey
the railroads for the Kerensky Govern
ment, but before improvements in equip
ment and operation could be effected
the Kerensky Government was over
thrown by the Bolsheviki. putting an
end for a time TO Mr. Stevens work.
Stevens in vIadivostok.
He went 70 Nasasaki. Japan. and
| later to Vladivostok where he has since
made his headquarters.
It is believed here that Mr.. Stevens
original plans will now be carried Oh
under the interallied control and thu
, two railroads reorganized according Il
American standards. enabling the ship
ment OF greater quantities OF foodstuf'
and other supplies 10 the interior o.
! Siberia and TO Russia when the situa
! ton there clears
! In the belief here the function OF thu
military board in connection with thu
interallied control will be to look aftei
military transportation problems.
By the Associated Press.
| TOXIC, jar. Am understanding
has been reached between Japan and
the United States, the Kokumin SHIN
ban announces apparently with au
,hority, regarding joint control OF TIM
| Chinese Eastern and Siberian railroads
, (which for some time has been re
! garded with concern" Notice of TIT
agreement. the paper adds. has beer
sent 10 the seven powers concerned. but
all matters have been settled and al
| official statement will be ISSUED shortly
The plan. according TO the paper. IN
! cludes tho appointment OF John r
| Stevens as president OF the operating
board having control OF economic anf
, technical operation under n joint com
mission.
other newspa pers say that American
l ,',4
! Siberia in connection with tho rail
road question. The newspapers view
the reported agreement as a happy SO
| luton OF a difficult problem.