The New York herald., 1921-01-19
JAPAN PREPARES
DEFENCE OF HER
SIBERIAN POLICY
Washington Expects Toxic
to Assert Dominating PO-
litical Influence.
ANSWER TO COLBY
Will Accompany Explana-
tion OF Langdon Death and
Action OF Sentries.
TO CITE RED PERIL
Need of Buffer State to Guard
Against Russian Opprcs-
sion to Be Advanced.
Special Despatch to THE NEW YORK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
N. I8

New York Herald Bureau,
Washington, ID. G., Jan. IL.
Japan is preparing an elaborate ar
gument justifying the presence Of
japanese troops in Siberia and in ex-
planation of her entire Siberian policy,
according to reliable information re-
ceived here to-day.
While Japan has not officially recog-
nized the right Of the United States
to question it's activities in the Far
East, it is part of the Japanese policy
at this juncture to give proper regard
to public opinion both in the United
States and throughout the world.
The Japanese Siberian discussion will
accompany the explanation OF the action
of the Japanese sentry in shooting Lieut..
Langdon and in challenging other Amer
leans in uniform in Vladivostok since
Lieut.. Langdon's death. 1t also will be
in reply to the previous American re-
quest for an explanation contained in
the note addressed to the Toxic Gov
ernment earlier by Secretary of State
Colby and is expected to show that
Japan is preparing to maintain a domi-
Mating political influence in Eastern
Siberia.
johnson Asks of T.. >. Policy.
While this document is in preparation
Senator Johnson (Cal.) introduced a
resolution in the Senate to-day which
has in view an explanation Of the ST.
berian policy pursued earlier by the
Wilson administration and of the under
standing which the United States has
with Japan. Information that Amer
,.tr oil xyn1v led
from trade in Siberia also had weight
with Senator johnson, who said that
he and other Senators on the Foreign
Relations Committee had received in
formation that the Japanese were be-
coming strongly intrenched in Siberian
commerce and that American business
interests there, with a great field for
developing. were suffering.
The resolution reads "Resoired, That
the Foreign Relations Committee or a
subcommittee thereof be and it is here
by authorized to investigate the sending
OF the United States soldiers to Siberia;
the purpose of their presence there;
their activities and accomplishments if
any, and also as to the condition and
situation of citizens of the United States
and the interests of citizens of the
United States in Siberia"
Senator Johnson said his resolution
had no reference to the shooting Of
Lieut.. Langdon.
According to the information received
10 Washington. the statement which tho
corning its policy in Siberia will include
these points:
The Japanese stpess the fact that the
despatch Of Japanese troops to Siberia
was originally undertaken in concert
with the United States. 1t will be point
ed out that Bolshevsm was then con-
fined to Europe. and Siberia presented
a more normal condition, with Admiral
Kolchak in control of both Eastern and
Western Siberia
1t will then be asserted that conditions
have since greatly changed. Kolchak
has been removed from the scene. and
that following the Czech repatriation
Bolshevik partisan" rule has spread
over the entire Siberian country from the
Urals to the Pacific. with the exception
of tho country near the coast where
Japanese troops are in control.
The Japanese Government Will under
take to show the necessity 1t rests un-
der of protecting itself from BoIshevis-
tic assaults. Attention will be called to
the fact that Bolshevism has been out
lawed by the whole world and that the
United States undertook military meas
uIto dkdiHst TIC ISOiSntNlhi tOkttHtt
with the allied countries in the expcdi-
ton to Archangel.
Economic Interests.
While the allied governments have
adopted their own measures OF protec-
ton against this menace. It will be
claimed that the Japanese are In a diff
ferent position. that their geographical
proximity to Bolshevist territory and
Bolshevist influence on the Pacific
coast requires military measures. The
| militant attitude OF the Moscow Govern
| ment makes II necessary for the Japan
ese to prevent Bolshevist agents from
entering Corea and TO prevent Bolshev-
fist troops from invading Manchuria.
The interest of the Japanese in the
Eastern Siberian section is not only po-
htical. it win be pointed out. but the
Japanese people have an economic inter-
est as well.
The Japanese claim TO be dealing with
the Vladivostok Government. which is an
independent organization. and Is also
dealing with the Chita Government re-
Gently established. An understanding
with the Chita Government would make
IL possible TO recognize that Government
as the dominant governmental organiza-
ton in the section east of the Lake
Bailai region and furnish the nucleus of
| tic buffer State 10 which Japanese