New-York tribune., 1920-01-17
the offensive in cooperation with anti
Bolshevik forces is impracticable.

bolshevlk forces is lmpractlcabe.
"The government OF the wUnited
States believes that for it to continue
to participate in guarding the districts
now under Allied military protection is
also, under present conditions, imprac-
ticable, for the reason that an agree
ment to send reinforce emeuts to such
extent as may be required, with a view
10 MAINTAIN the status quo, might in
voive the government of the United
States in an undertaking of such in
definite character as to be inadvisable.
The amount of reinforcement which
might become necessary for the exc
cutton of such an agreement might be
so great that the government of the
United States would not feel justified
IN Carrying it out.
Purposes of Expedition Reviewed
Cons liberation has been given, there
tore, to the alternative presented by
the government of Japan OF entire or
partial withdrawal. 1t will be recalled
that the purposes of the expedition, as
originally conceived by the United
States and expressed in an aide
menoire handed TO the Japanese AM
tassador at Washington July II, 1918.
we're, first, to help the Czecho- -Slovals
troops, which, had. du,ing their retire
ment along the Siberian Railway, been
atsccked by the Bolsheviki and enemy
prisoners of war in Siberia to con-
soadare their forces and effect their
repatriation by way of Vladivostok,
a'M. second. to steady any efforts at
self government or self-defense in
wlich the Russians themselves might
be. willing to accept assistance.
ANot only are the Czecho- Slovak
'rpops now successfully advancing into
"a Etern Siberia, but an agreement has
bcSn effected between the governments
ofs1ireat Britain and the United States
pr1vidiug for their repatriation from
N$divostok. American vessels will be-
gis 20 arrive at that port by February
nnd a contingent Of more than 10000
Cz cho-Slovak troops can be imned-
atSly embarked. 1t is expected that
evacuation viii proceed rapidly there
nfEr, and from that date the first pur-
pose for which American soldiers were
seEt 20 Siberia may be regarded as ac-
cosrplished.
r Situations Declared Uncertain
gWith respect to the second pur-
IF. namely the steadying OF efforts
Reinforcement or self-defense on
thG part of the Russians, the govern
ia S1t Of the United States is impressed
" Fh the political instability and grave
u urecertal mites of the pre- e5ent situation
in<Eas.ern Siberia, rs described in the
4 de mcmoire presented by the Japa-
ueSe Ambassador December &. and is
disposed to the view that further mill
tafy effort to assist the Russians in
ting struggle toward self-government
mss, in the present situation, lead TO
Complications which would have exactly
th$ opposite effect prolonging the
peJiod Of readjustment and involving
japan and the United States in ineTec-
tiyt and needless sacrifices. It is felt
ackordingly to be unlikely that the
SECOND purpose for which American
troops were sent to Siberia will be
logger served by their presence there
GIN view, then, of the fact that the
m&in purposes for which American
tr4cps were sent to Siberia are now az
ayx, end, and of the considerations sci
foxth in the communication of the Jap
ar{rse government of December 8, which
Subsequent events in eastern Siberia
hape strengthened. the government O.
the United States has decided to begil
at<once arrangements for the conccn
tuition OF the American forces a
Vhdivostok, with view to their EN-
ba9kation and departure immediatel,
after the leaving of the first importan
cohtingent of Czecho-Slovak troop
shat is to say, about February l.
sRailway Experts to Withdraw
Careful consideration has also bees
giyen to the possibility Of continuing
after the departure of the Americas
troops, the assistance of American
railway experts in the operation Of tn,
THnssiberian and Chinese Easter
railways. 1t will be recalled that it il
expressly stipulated in the plan 70,
the supervision OF these railway,
which was submitted by the Japanes,
Ambassador at Washington Januar,
log 1919, that the arrangement shoult
cease upon the withdrawal Of the for
eiSn military forces from Siberia an.
th4t all foreign railway experts an
po9nted under the arrangement shoul,
! then be recalled forthwith The ex
pericpce Of recent months in the oper
alton OF the railways under condition,
ofz unstable civil authority and fire.
o4snt local military interference fur
niskes strong reason for abiding b,
ing terms Of the original agrccmef II l
Arrangements will be made accordingl