New-York tribune., 1921-05-23
Japan to Quit
Shantllnggs g and
Siberia, Report
Offcialo of Foreign OficeSays
Move Means No Change in
FarEastern p Policy,F ollow-
ing Colonial Conference
To Withdraw Troops Soon
May Act Before Acceptance
by China of Offer to Open
Restoration Negotiations

TOXIC, May % (By The Associated
Press) ).-Japan is to evacuate Siberia
and restore Shantung to China "at the
earliest possible moment" according to
statement by an official of the Foreign
Office following adjournment yesterday
of the Colonial Conference which has
been in session here for the last week.
/ This, he declared, meant that there
would be "no change in Japan's funda-
! mental policy" in the Far East.
The government has decided not to
publish any of the conclusions reached
by the conference for the present, but
it was declared that the results had
been so gratifying that similar gather
lngs may be held annually to secure CO.
ordination between the various branches
of government at home and in other
parts of the Far East. The conferees
included high Japanese military and
civil authorities from Siberia, Man
churia, Corea and Kwantung and was
presided over by Premier Hara. The
sessions were private.
While officials generally declined to
say whether Japan would take any new
positive steps in Siberia and Shantune,
declaring that this depended entirely
on circumstances, they voiced the hope
that China was willing to discuss ar
rangements for restoration of the prov
ince. In regard to the conditions sur
rounding such restoration they empha-
sized that Japan sought nothing in ex-
change, but must have some assurances
that Japanese residents and interests
in Shantung would be fully protected.
1t was added that the absence of re-
sponsible authority in China with
which to deal was the greatest handi-
cap.
Believe Negotiations Begun
The impression prevails in Toxic that
japan has actually inaugurated nego-
tiations with the Chinese government,
though for the moment there is a oues-
ton as to the recognition of that gov
ernment. Meanwhile the leading Japa-
nese newspapers insist. that Japan will
withdraw her troops from the Shantung
railroad to Tsingtau without awaiting
Chlna's acceptance of Japan's standing
offer to open restoration negotiations
1t is declared this withdrawal will be
carried out with an aim to fastening
arrangements for the actual relinquish-
ment of the province to China
The newspapers also declare the gov
ernment is arranging to evacuate the
whole of Siberia with the exception of
the points in Saghalin Province which
were occupied because of the Niko-
lalevsk massacre.
The Kokivin Shimbun, the military
organ, attacks the government, which,
1t says, is trying to create the false i'm
preston that it will establish con-
structive policy in Siberia by with
drawing its troops. 1t says the military
leaders are fearful that such an evacu-
alton will lead to anarchistic condi-
tlons inimical to Japan and the other
powers. The newspaper also reports
that Japan is to make loan to the
Chinese Eastern Railway
Conditioned on Peace Promise
According to the Nichi Nichi Shin
bun, Japan's conditions of withdrawal
from Shantung include assurance of
the maintenance of peace and order in
the three Far Eastern provinces, with
safeguards against establishment of
communism and protection of Japan's
economic interests. The Nichi Nichi
adds that to protect Corea" from a
million or more Coreans in Manchuria
and Siberia, who are in a state of un-
rest, Japan is seeking a special agree
ment with China In regard to the ex-
tension of consular and police rights,
and also stricter. control over the dis
contented Coreanss