New-York tribune., 1920-07-05
Japan Decides
To Hold Part
OF Saghalien
Siberian Province Will Be
Occupied by Troops
Pending a Settlement
for Staying of the 700
Atrocity Is Denounced
Premier Tells Imperial Diet
That ''Honor of Nation
Demands Positive Action"

WASHINGTON, July 4 (By The AS
socatc6 Press. s).-Japan has decided
to occupy such points of the province
of Saghalen, Siberia, as it deems nee
essary pending the establishment there
of a legitimate government and salts
factory settlement for the massacre
of 700 Japanese at Nicholaievsk.
The governments decision was pub
lished yesterday in the Official Ga
zette" at Toxic and at the same time
announced by Premier Hara in his ad-
session OF the Imperial Diet. The
Premier also announced that japanese
troops would be withdrawn Immediately
from those districts of Siberia where
their presence no longer was needed.
Japanese troops will not be with
drawn from the Vladivostok region,
however, the government holding that
this stands on a different footing be-
cause Corea can be menaced from this
direction. Many japanese live there,
and Harborovsk, within the region, con-
stitutes a point Of strategic Importance
on the way to Saghalien.
Premier Hara's Speech
Premier Hara's speech, as made pub
lie to-day by the Japanese Embassy
here. follows:
Especial session Of the Diet being
brief in duration, the government in
tends to propose only bills whose early
passage IS in the interest of national
demands, viz: those concerning the
national defense. the increase of sala-
ries, the revision of pension system
the improvement of judicial SYSTEM
and the development mt of national power.
"Of our foreign relations the ques-
ton Of the renewal of the Anglo
Japanese alliance is under serious CON
sideration Of the government. The
question Of the Chinese loans, the gov
ernment is gratihed to note, has been
solved by the formation of a new con-
sortium. But the question of Shan
tung is still unsettled. due to the fail
ure of the Chinese government to &C
cept the proposal for negotiations.
The event of Nicholaievsk is heart
rending in extreme. The government
laments the fate of those who fell vic
times OF atrocity, and honor of the
nation naturally demands positive ac-
ton.
Will Evacuate Certain Districts
"Therefore. the government has de-
cided to take such a course as an
ncunced in the statement published to-
day AS also announced at the same
time. the government has come TO the
decision. in conformity with previous
declarations, to evacuate those dis
trlcts in Siberia where the presence of
Japanese troops is no longer needed
"A few words respecting the present
financial conditions OF the country,
with particular regar I'd to the adjust
ment Of prices. The government was
careful 70 follow the policy OF avoiding
such measures as might cause general
depression by abruptly interfering with
the existing economic arrangement
Despite that caution, it is regretted
that the financial commotion has re-
Gently been experienced. The govern
situation and secure the financial sta
bility."
The governments announcement in
the Official Gazette" referred to by
the Premier, follows:
Between March 12 and the latter
part Of May nearly 700 Japanese. men.
women and children at Nikalaievsl:. in
Guiding officers and men of the gar
rlson and the consul and his family
were massacred by Bolsheviki in the
most revolting. cruel manner.
Decide to Maintain Troops
Faced by such event, the Japanese
government telt 1t lnCuN bent upon
them to take steps to uphold the honor
and prestige Of this country, but in abb
sence, at this moment of any respon-
sible government to whom representa-
tions might be made, the Japanese gov
ernment have been at a loss as to the
proper line of action they should fol-
low to achieve their end In these cir
cumstances the japanese government
have come to the decision. pending the
establishment of legitimate govern
ment and satisfactory settlement Of
the present affair to occupy such points
in the Province Of Saghalen as they
may deem necessary.
Having regard for the complete
evacuation of Zabaikal provinces by
Czecho-Slovak troops, the Japanese
government has decided to withdraw
its troops from these regions in con-
fornity with its repeated declarations,
Districts around Vledivostok, how
ever, stand on different footing. Not
only is the menace from those quar-
ters against Corea still present, but
the situation tends rather to aggravate
Moreover, there is large number Of
Japanese residents in the neighborhood,
and Harbarovsk constitutes a point Of
strategic Importance on the way to the
province of Saghalien.
In view of these consideration, the
japanese government finds itself com
PEELED, until such time as peace and
order shall have been completely Sc
cured. to maintain sufficient number of
troops in these regions"