Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-10-10
JAPS CONTROL
100000 WHITES
IN EAST SIBERIA
Holds Russian Ports, Rail-
roads and Telegraphs With
Armed Force of 100000.
BRINGS UP RACE ISSUE
Special to Indiana Daily Times
and Philadelphia Public Ledger.
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM WI

and Philadelphia Public Ledger.
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.
WASHINGTON, Oct determination
Of a vast white community by an Oriental
race-namely, of 100000 Russians in
eastern Siberia by the Japanese-may
! form the unexpected basis Of discussion
| of the racial issue at the Washington
conference. Certain remarkable facts on
! that score have reached your correspond
ent. The situation to which they allude
is engaging the close scrutiny OF the
United States. There is little doubt they
were conspicuously in Secretary Hughes
mind when, in his note to the Far East
ern republic of Chita on Sept. 10, he
spoke of the moral trusteeship the
/ Washington conference would hold in
respect of the integrity of Russian ter
ritory.
According TO the portrayal Of japanese
program which has reached Washington,
she is turning into an accomplished fact
in Siberia what Australia, for example,
only fears one day as a possible con-
tingency there, viz, conversion of "A
White Mans Country" into "A Yellow
Mans Country" In other words, the
peril Of alien race domination while
theory in the British Dominion, has be-
come a condition in Eastern Siberia. The
conference, it is predicated, therefore
win have to face a racial issue that is
not problematical, but actually existent
For some weeks past Japan has been
attempting to deal directly with the Chita
government regarding evacuation OF
Siberian territory. The writer has rea-
son to believe the Toxic Chita negotia-,
tions have broken down, like the Toxic
Picking negotiations for evacuation OF
Shantung. The Far Eastern republic,
like the republic of China. apparently ex-
poets the basic issues involved to be
thrashed out at the Washington confer
ence, although there Is no certainty what
ever that japan either will submit her
affairs in Shantung and Eastern Siberia
to arbitarment at Washington or abide
by any decisions that may be taken
there.
HUGHES SENDS
OBSERVER To CHITA.
Americas interest in the eastern
Siberian situation was significantly DEM
onstrated when Secretary Hughes q
month ago dispatched Caldwell to Chfta
as an official observer on behalf OF
the United States.
1t is claimed that Japan today, for all
I practical purposes, is IN possession OF
the vast maritime provinces OF Siberia,
including VladivOstOk and other ports,
cutting OF Russia from the sea as
effectually as If her frontiers ended at
Lake Baikal. Estimates as to the jap
anese troops holding the coastal and in
terror regions place their number as
high as $4,000 or 10000. Virtually every
important branch OF economic activity is
said to be under their domination. They
control the posts, the telegraph, the rail-
roads, the highways, and all trading
functions. The local Russian population
hoe
to avert the possibility of an effective
resistance to the japanese occupation.
BY process described as tantamount to
confiscation, all kinds Of property OF
essential value have been bought up for
japanese account
Within the area thus under japanese
influence there are rOundly 100000
white people. a total larger than the
combined white population OF Australia
New Zealand and South Africa They
represent the results OF many years of
intensive colonization by Russia, espe-
eially following the completion of the
TransSiberian Railway. Those whe ex-
pect Russia to revive from the sleeping
sickness of Bolshevism are frankly con-
cerned oyer the danger of these millions
OF white people passing under the virile,
but none the less alien, civilization OF
Japan. No authority acquainted with
the facts lmagines 1t viii be easy to ex-
pei the japanese from Siberia
JAPAN'S POSITION
STRONGLY ENTRENCHED
Their position Is strongly entrenehed.
1t undoubtedly will require more than
Washington conference resolutions to,
undermine It unless they are accompanied
by substantial compensatory concessions.
1t is recalled unpleasantly that it was in
the guise Of compensatory concessions"
that Japan secured the Shantung lease at
Versailles
The japanese say they have spread
themselves in Eastern Siberia as legiti-
mate and necessary measure of f-pro-
lection. They declare their nationals
have been murdered. maltreated and
robbed, and that the Importance of jap
anese economic interests required the
strong hand Japan has had to impose.
On the Siberian coast, in Sa gbalin island
and adjacent to the island, Japan claims
to be operating under acknowledged and
legal treaty rights. She owns the South
MancEUrlan Railway, which is said TO
confer natural privileges In territory so
contiguous as Eastern Siberia. The Jap
anese profess their readiness to abandon
Siberia under proper conditions"
Nevertheless, for reasons herein set
forth, American friends OF Russia de-
plore the prevailing tendency to concern
trate attention on the open door" In
China With that issue may be wrapped
up the question of equality of CONNER
cial opportunity in the worlds greatest
potential market. But a Russia that is
intact, sovereign and free to use her
Pacific ports and land connections in
case Of Far Eastern complications, Rus
sOphiles see an issue even more vital
than the open door in China.
THE freedom of China they say,
may be said to depend upon Russia's
remaining a strong white mans country"
Copyright, 1921, by Public Ledger Com
pany