Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1920-01-17
] $. TELLS REASON , FOR WITHDRAWAL. OF FORCES IN SIBERIA Reinforcement Impractical; :; 10 Retain Status Quo is
 Dangerous NATURE OF VENTURE
 CALLED INDEFINITE Amount of Achievements Needed Might Become Too Large, State
 Department Tells the
 Japanese.

Japanese.
 Washington, Jan. lG Reasons which brought about the decision ol the United States government to withdraw the Siberian cXpedtionary force have been set forth in a note to the Japanese government The note in reply to a communication of the Japanese government transmit ted to the state department, Decem- Der 8, was made public tonight.
 Japan, in it's communication in quired whether the United States proposed to maintain the status quo or proceed to entire or partial with drawal of it's troops, or whether il was ready to send achievements in case of need.
 In replying that under existing cir cumstances, it was deemed advisable to withdrawn the expeditionary for ces, the United States asserts that reinforcement would be impractical and that to maintain the status quo might involve the government ot the United States in an undertaking of such indefinite character as tt be inadvisa ble."
 Other aspects of the Siberian sit. nation are set forth in the Ameri can note which folows:
 "The government o fthe United States has given the most careful consideration to the subject matter of the communication from the Jap anese government which was reat | to the secretary of state by the Japanese ambassador on the eighth day of December, and which con. cerns the recent development of the military situation with which Ad miral Kolchaks forces have beer confronted, and which propose: three alternative courses for the allied and associated powers to take
 "The government of the United States agrees that for it to send { reinforcement of sufficient strength to act on the offensive with anti bolshevik forces is impractical.
 Purpose of Plan.
 "Thc government of the United States believes that for it to con tinue to participate in guarding thu districts now under allied militar, protection, is, also, under presen conditions, impractical for the req son that an agreement to send rein forcements to such extent as may bt required with a view to maintaining the status quo, might involve tho government of the United States ir an undertaking of such indefinite character as to be inadvisable. Tho amount of reinforcement which might become necessary for the execution of such an agreement might be so great that the govern ment of the United States would not feel justified in carrying it out,
 Reconsideration has been given therefore, to the alternative present ed by the government of Japan of entire or partial withdrawal. It will be recalled that the purpose of the expedition as originally conceived by the United States and expressed in an aide memoire handed to the Japanese ambassador at Washing ton. July IF. 1918, were, first, tc help the Czecho- -Slovak troops, which had during their retirement alone the Siberian railway. been attacked by the bolsheviki and enemy prison CTS of war in Siberia. to consolidate their forces and effect their repatra- ton hy way of Vladivostok, and second, to steady any efforts al self-government or self-defense in which the Russians themselves migh, be willing to accept assistance.
 "Not only are the Czecho-Slovak troops now successfully advancinp into Eastern Siberia. hut an agree ment has been effected between the governments of Great Britain and the United States providing for thei, repatriation from Vladivostok. Amer icon vessels vii begin to arrive al that port February 1 and a contin- gent of more than 10000 C7echo. Slovak troops can be immediately emba rked. It is expected that the evacuation will proceed rapidly there nnrpose for which American soldiers were sent to Siberia may be regard. ed as accomplished.
 "With respect to the second pur- pose, namely, the ste' dying of eff. forts at self-government or self-de. fense on the part of the Russians Lnc SOVcIHIlcHL Ol CHc OHiLcu oLdle~ is impressed with the political in. stability and grave uncertainty o, the present situation in Eastern Si. beria as described in the aide mem. oire presented by the Japanese ambassador December 8, and is dis. posed to the view that further mill tary effort to assist the Russians ir the struggle toward self-government may in the present situation, lead te complications which have exactly tho opposite effect, prolonging possibl, the period of readjustment and in. volving Japan and the United States in ineffective and needless sacri fices. It is felt, accordingly, to bt unlikely that the second purposes fol which American troops were sent tt Siberia are now at an end, and o1 the considerations set forth in the communication of the Japanese gov. ernment of December 8. subsequent events in Eastern Siberia have strengthened, the government of the United States has decided to begin at once arrangements for the con centration of American forces al Vladivostok with a view to their em- barkatinn and departure immediately offor tho 1ooviuo If tho firot i'm.