The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-08-27
Gen. Semienofff
in Siberia
japanese View of the Situa-
ton


fetal kilograms sent by General
Tachibana Of the japanese eXpe-
ditionaly force IL VladivOstok, to
his superiors in Tokyo, indicate to
some extent the interest felt in the
effort Of Semienoff to reestabEsh
himself in Siberia, and in the for
tunes of Baron nger-Sternberg IN
Mongolia. Opposition by the con-
sular corps at Vladivostok to Sem
ienoff's return to power, coupled
with antagonisn1 to h. 4 in the Jap
anese army itself, has created a
situation which the japanese
commander declares has forced
an attitude Of conciliation'
toward the Far Eastern Republic,
and has caused the Japanese coms
mand to alter it's plans for opera
tons in Siberia.
Both telegrams were dated June
90. The first, addressed to Gener-
al Ouikhara, Tokyo, is as follows:
"In view Of Seo's Ca japanese
officer on Semienoffs staff reports
in regard to continuance Of nego-
1iations between the Merkuloff gov
ernment and Ataman Semienoff. l
am taking an attitude Of 'eXpecta-
ton. / have informed SEQ that my
attitude would hange as soon as
the Mongolian group opens gener-
al activities and shows some actual
results in the 1'ralSbalkalia region.
The present situation, l believe, IS
due to the underground work Of
some of the extreme radical par
ties supported by the whole per-
some, of the Vladivostok consuls.
They are entirely ignorant of the
real Russian question and are be-
ing led by the American represen-
tative who has adopted an ire
concilable attitude toward our in
fuence in the Far East. / have
commenced negotiations to coun-
teract this movement with several
of the non-socialist groups and ex-
pect to find a peaceful way out OF
the present situation which is very
precarious to the budget question
for the Siberian eXpeditionary
force"
The second dispatch, sent by
Gen. Tachibana 10 General Sudzuki,
Tokyo, four hours later on the
same day, follows:
From all my reports to the su-
preme military council you may
adge whether the situation is truly
abnormal so far as our eXpediation-
ary corps is concerned. Among Our
own forces a group has formed
which is opposed to Atanan Sem
ienoff and is supporting the oppo-
sition in the army and among the
people. Their position is strength
ened by the consular corps whose
members have adopted a hostile at
titude toward Semienoff.
1.-The general situation now tends
TO force us back to an attitude OF
Cancellation with regard to the.
Far Eastern Republic which an
nuls the plan worked out. The :po-
sition in which we find the. Mon
golian army, so small in numbers
that it is out of all proportion 10
the area Of territory occupied and
to the military operations on three
fronts, naturally delays the solu-
ton Of the Semienoff problem.
The appropriation as assigned
by the budget, confirmed by the Su-
preme Military Counil, to support
the Semienof units. is exhausted.
This condition I ascribe to the fre-
uuent changes made in our pro-
gram and the hesitating attitude
adopted by the Military Council as
to putting an end to non-interfer-
ence IL Russian domestic affairs.
The delay in making decision may
bring very undesirable tonse-
,uuences. The situation Of our army
demands an immediate clearing up
in regard to the Russian question.
Knowing your point Of view l re-
quest you to use your influence in
the matter"