Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-10-24
CHITA HOLDS
FAR EASTERN
CONTROVERSY
American Citizens Believed In
Control at Siberian Re-
public Base.
FARLEY PROBLEM SEEN
Special to Indiana Daily Times
and Philadelphia Public Ledger.

Special to Indiana Daily Times
and Philadelphia Public Ledger
by FREDERICK WILLIAM VILE.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 24.-Bormer resi-
dents Of the United States, who probably
are American citizens, are in control Of
the Far Eastern republic of Siberia at
Chlta. The political possibilities Of that
situation are eToking considerable COM
ment in Washington official quarters. 1t
IS the Chlta government, headed by those
semf-Americans, which now IS fencing
with the Toxic government with a view
to forcing the evacuation OF Siberian ter
ritory by the japanese army. The ne
gotiations were reported fortnight ago
10 have broken down, thus frustrating
Japans desire to have the Siberian cues
ton, Ike Shantung. settled privately
before the Washington conference
The two men IN charge at Chita are a
former Chicago lawyer and q one-time
New York I. W. ". sgitator. The ex-
Chicagoan, who Is the chief or the presi-
dent Of the Far Eastern rpeubllc, was
known while law student and practicing
attorney in the western city as Tobelson
or TObinsOn. IN Russia, to which be re-
turned after the czarist revolution, he is
known as Kraschneschekov, which means
"red cheek" The former New Yorker
who Is minister Of communications and
defense at Chita, IS named Shatov. BE
was a crOny of Trotski while the soviet
war minister lived IN New York and re-
turned 70 Petrograd and Moscow with
the TrotsH contingent at the time Of the
bolshevist upheaysL Both Kraschnes-
chekov and Shatov lived In this country
long enough to have obtained citizenship.
The former was here twelve or fifteen
years.
MAKES OVERTURES
FOR RECOGNITION.
Early this autumn the Chita govern
ment made oyertures to the United States
for recognition and sympathy. The con-
sequence was Secretary Hughes note OF
Sept 10, announcing the dispatch Of an
official observer to the Far Eastern re-
pubHc's capital, J. D. Caldwell, Amer
lean consul at Kobe, who Is expected to
reach Chits this week. he is accompanied
by a second American expert On Far
Eastern affairs, Edward B Thomas, vice
consul at Hardin. While informing the
Chita authorities that we would "ob-
serve" things automatically in their
country, Mr.. Hughes declared the United
States would represent the view that the
Washington conference held a moral
trustees hip" with regard 10 Russia Our
reply to the Far Eastern republic, 1t Is
understood, was made IN response to
Chita-s request for the right to partici-
pate in the Washington parIey.
The United States IS not quite clear, 1t
appears, as TO whether the Chita re-
public is red" and Moscow dominated,
or not. 1t calls itself q "non-commun-
istic democracy" but both Kraschnesche-
koy and Shatoy certainly at one time were
hand-in- glove with the Lenin- Trotsd
regime. Further Developments. as far as
sympath ic American interest in the Far
Eastern Republic IS concerned, viii de-
pend upon what Messrs. Caldwell and
Thomas observe" there.
JAP GARRISON
RULES DISTRICT.
Following the collapse Of the Kolchak
anti Bolshevist movement N 1919 the
Far Eastern republic, comprising cIus-
ter of cal administrative entities il
eastern Siberia, was CtSanized- It. has
rad q checkered and uncertain existence.
AT one time it included the Yladiyostok
local government But the latter has
now set up business for itself, under
precarious conditions, for the japanese
garrison is lord Of creation in the dis
trict.
Nevertheless, * sill is the hope Of
many students Of R1ssias tangled for
tunes that the Chita government may one
day prove 10 be the springboard from
which the old Russia With outside
help, can leap back 10 sovereignty and
triumph over the Red tyranny az Moscow.
Americas interest in the perpetuatiOn OF
the Far Eastern republic IS manifest and
undisguised. Il is the one bulWark
against any permanent aggressions the
japanese might attempt to carry out IL
Siberia. 1t contains Russia's only out
let's to the Pacific. and Is her one route
70 the non-Japanized Far East from the
vast hinterland TO the West With Japan
in control Of the maritime province" Of
Siberia, the Pacific coast Of the Far
Eastern republic al efforts by the
United States Navy TO cope successfully
with the Japanese fleet In the eastern
Pacific would virtually be doomed in
advance. With Siberian ports in friendly
hands. a conversely favorable situation
would exist
Il is for ell the reasons herein men
toned that great interest attaches TO the
possibility that American citizens are at
the helm IN Chita It Is regarded newt
table that they win turn up, In person
or through representatives, when Far
Eastern principles and policies" are un-
der discussion IN Washington next month.
Chita's stand against japan is under
stood to be unequivocoal Recent Dego-
tiations broke down, It IS learned, be-
cause the Far Eastern republics negod-
atoms at Derisn formerly the Russian
town Of Dainty. in southern Msnchuria)
declared q settlement with the japanese
on the basis Of far reaching economic"
concessions in return for withdrawal Of
the japanese army from Siberia. The
japanese version Of the breakdown Is
that the Chta negotiations asked tina
to consult their gOyernment."-COpy
right, 1921, by Public Ledger Company.