Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1920-01-17

Washington, Jan. Is. - Reasons
which. brought about the decision OF
the United States government to with
draw the Siberian expeditionary force
have been set forth in note TO the
Japanese government The note,
which is in reply TO a communication
of the japanese government, trans
mitted to the state department De-
cember 8, was made public tonight,
Japan in its communication inquired
whether the United States proposed TO
maintain the status quo, or to proceed
TO entire or partial withdrawal of its
troops, or whether it was ready to
send reinforcements in case of need.
In replying that under existing cir
cumstances II was deemed advisable
to withdraw the expeditionary force,
the United States asserts that REIN
forcements would be impractical and
that to maintain the status quo
might involve the government of the
United States in an. undertaking of
such indefinite character as to be in
advisable"
Other aspects of the Siberian situa-
ton are set forth in the American note
which follows
Text OF the Note.
THE government of the United
States has given the most careful
consideration to the subject matter of
the communication from the Japanese
government which was read TO the
secretary of state by the Japanese am
bassador on the eighth day of Decem-
ber, and which concerns the recent
unfavorable developments of the mill
tary situation with which Admiral
Kochak's forces have been confront
ed, and which proposes three alterna-
tive courses for the allied and asso-
ciated powers to take.
THE government OF the United
States agrees that for it to send a
reinforcement of sufficient strength
and to act on the offensive in coop
Grafton with the anti bolshevik forces
is impracticable.
THE government of the United
States believes that for 1t to continue
TO participate in guarding the districts
now under allied military protection
is III sc, unflet present goiNiitions, ini-
practicable for the reason that an
agreement to send reinforcements TO
such extent as may be required, with
q view to maintaining the status quo,
might involve the government of the
United States in an undertaking of
such such indefinite character as to
be inadNisable The amount of rein
forcement which might become nee
essary for the execution of such an
agreement might be so great that the
government of the United States
would not feel justified in carrying 1t
out
Purpose of Expedition.
Consideration has been given,
therefore, to the alternative presented
by the government of Japan of entire
or partial withdrawal. 1t will be re-
called that the purposes of the eXpe 7
dition. as originally conceived by the
United States and expressed in an
aide memoire, handed to the Japanese
ambassador at Washington, January
IT, 1918. first, to help the C2echo-
Slovak troops, which had during their
retirement along the Siberian railway,
been attacked by the bolsheviki and
enemy prisoners of war In Siberia, 20
consolidate their forces and effect
their repatriation by way of Vladivos-
tok, and, second, to steady any efforts
at government or self-defense in
which the Russians themselves might
be willing to accept assistance.
mot only are the Czecho- -Slovak
troops now successfully advancing in
to eastern Siberia, but an agreement
has been affected between the govern
ments of Great Britain and the United
States providing for their repatriation
from Vladivostok American vessels
will begin to arrive at that port by
February / and contingent Of more
than ten thousand CZecho-Slovak
troops can be Immediately embarked.
1t is expected that evacuation will pro-
ceed rapidly thereafter and from that
date the first purpose for which
American soldiers were sent to Siberia
may be regarded as accomplished.
Situation Complicated.
with respect to the second pur-
pose, namely, the steadyins of efforts
at lf-government or self-defense on
the part of the Russians, the govern
ment OF the United States is impress
ed with the political instability and
grave uncertainty of the present situa-
ton in eastern Siberia as described in
the aide memoire presented by the
Japanese ambassador. December 8.
and is disposed TO the view that fur
ther military efforts to assist the Rus
slams In the struggle toward self-gov-
ernment may, in the present situation,
lead to complications which would
have exactly the opposite effect. pro-
longing possibly the period of read
justnent and Involving Japan and the
United States In ineffective and need
less sacrifices 1t is felt accordingly
TO be unlikely that the second purpose
fOr uhirh Afnerirnp trnnpc mara sent