The New York herald., 1920-01-17
AME ER|CAN TROOPS
To LEAVE SIBERIA
FEBRUARY FIRST
Note to Japan Explains lmpos-
sibility of Further Co-opera-
ton in Far East.
Herald Bureau.
No. ,JO2 III street. N. W.,
Washington. ID. O., Friday.

and leave Siberia to its fate is set forth
in note to the Japanese government. the
text of which was made public by the
State Department today.
y The American troops assisting the
Czechoslovaks will be brought out at once,
and simultaneously the American En-
gineers who have been guarding the Sibe-
rian Railway will be withdrawn The
chaotic affairs of the country viii be left
to take their normal course without fur
-ther interference on the part of America
or attempts to establish and maintain
order in the face of the Bolshevist ad-
vance.
The decision of the United States gov
ernment was given in response TO an in
quiry from Japan submitted through the
Japanese Ambassador Mr.. ShidNlara, on
December s. The Japanese Ambassador
called the attention OF the State Depart
ment to the unfavorable development of
the Siberian situation and inquired
whether the United States proposed to
withdraw entirely its troops or send re-
inforcements in case of need
Reply to Japanese Note.
Specific replies to these questions are
given in the note, the text of which fol-
lows
The government of the United States
has given the most careful consideration
to the subject matter of the communi-
cation from the Japanese government,
which read TO the Secretary of State
by the Japanese Amba ssador on the Sth
day of December and which concerns the
recent unfavorable development of the
military situation with which Admiral
Kolchak's forces have been confronted
and which proposes three alternative
courses for the allied and associated
Powers TO take.
1.-THE government of the United States
agrees that for it to send a reinforcement
of sufficient strength, and to act on the
offensive in cooperation with anti-Bolshe-
vik forces is impracticable.
Tire government OF the United States
believes that for il to continue to par
ticipate in guarding the districts now
. under allied military protection is also,
under present conditions. impracticable.
for the reason that an agreement to send
rsinforcements to such extent as may be
required, with n view to maintain the
status quo might involve the government
Of the United States in an undertaking
of such indefinite character as to seem
inadvisa BILE. The amount of reinforcement
which might become necessary Tor the
execution of such an agreement might be
80 GREAT that the government of the United
states would not feel justified in carrying
II out.
Decides on withdrawal.
'It will be recalled that the purposes
OF the expedition, as originally conceived
by the United States and expressed in an
aide nnemoirc. handed to the japanese
Ambassa dor at Washington, July IL. 1915,
were. first. TO help the Czechosiovak
troops which had during their retirement
along the Siberian Railway been attacked
bv the BolsheviKi and enemy prisoners OF
war in Siberia, to consolidate their forces
and effect their repatriation by way OF
VIadivostok and second, to steady any
a,,s GnlF F-Hr
in which the Russians themselves might pe
willing to accept assistance
mot onlv are the CzechoSlovak troops
nouv successfully advancing into Eastern
Siberia but an agreement mas peen ell
fected between the governments OF Great
d. Britain and the United states proVIding
for their repa triation from NladiVostok'
American vessels will begin to arrive ~
t3,,t port by February I and contingent
of -nore than 10000 Czechosloyak troops
o.n Immediately be embarked IL Is en-
pected that the evacuation VIII proceed
rapidlyI thereafter. and from that date
.theif first purpose for which American SOL
diers were sent 10 Siberia may be re-
garded as accomplished.
with respect TO the second purpose.
namely, the steadying of efforts at self
government or self-defence on the part or
the Russians. the government OF the
United states is impressed with the po-
litical instability and grave uncertainties
Of the present situation in Eastern Siberls,
as described in the aide memoire pre-
sented by the Japanese Ambassador De-
cember s. and is disposed TO the view tnat
further military effort to assist the ttus-
SLAMS in the struggle toward selt-goVern-
ment NAV in the present situation lead TO
complications which would have eNactlN
tho opposite effect. prolonEing possibiy
the period OF readjustment and involving
Japan and the United States in inetiecuVe
and needless sacrifices. lt is felt accord
inglv TO be unlikely that the second pur-
nose for which American troops were sent
to Siberia will be no longer served by tneii
presence there.
Move to Begin mt Once.
EN- view. then. OF the fact that the main
r,,rnoses for which American troops were
sent to Siberia are now at an end' ana Oh
tbe considerations set forth in the conn
munication of the japanese government
of December 8. which suosequsnt W.
,o Eastern Siberia have strengthened. the
~overnment Of the United States has de-
y ridcd 10 begin Mt once arrangements TOT
-tha Concentration Of the American FORCES
(. at vladivostok, with view to tnelr en-
:. barlSation and departure inlmed'atelv az
:. ,.r the leaving of the first important con-
: tinrent OF Czechoslovak troops thaI 10 ~
= saw about February ].
= .s.r,e Government OF the United states
: desires the Japanese government 70 kno"
: that II regrets the necessity Tor thls ue-
: ciaion. because II seems to mark the end'
( FOR the time being at least, OF co-opera-
: .ive effort BY japan and the United states
: 70 assist the Russian people. which had
= ~ late begun TO bear important results
. and seemed TO give promise for the future.
: The government OF the United states Is
= most arpreciative OF the friendly spirit
: which has animated the government OF
: Japan in this undertaking and Is con-
/, WINGED that the basis Of understandings
: which has been established will serve In
(. the future TO facilitate the common efforts
. ~ the two countries to deal with the
. problems which confront them In Siberia
I. The government of the United states does
Z not in the least relinquish the deep inter.
! est which Il feels in the political and
. economic fate of the people OF Siberia nor
its purpose to cooperate with Japan In
the most frank and friendly way in al
pra ctical plans which may he worked out
for the political and economic rehabilta.