The Washington herald., 1922-01-25
JAPS MAY STAY
IN SIBERIA, SAYS
WAR AUTHORITY
Protection Of Citizens
From Disorder" Vague,
City Clubmen Told.

AS long as Japan keeps troops In
siberia for the purpose of pro-
tecting Its citizens from disorder"
Japanese occupation looks like a
permanent thing. Junius b. Wood,
war correspondent and Far East
investigator. told $50 members of
the City Club and their women
guests at the weekly forum lunch
con yesterday.
Japan says she must stay in
Siberia until order is restored" Mr..
Wood said. but when one reflects
that the only places where disor-
der exists are where the Japanese
take control. it appears that they
are due for a long stay.
Japan also says that 1t cannot
negotiate for withdrawal because
there Is no stable government in
Siberia with which to enter into
negotiations; yet this statement
would appear to be negatived
by the fact that Japan has been
negotiating with the Far Eastern
Republic ever since August"
Reason for Retaiains Hold.
There are many reasons why ia
pan should wish to retain control
of the sections Of siberia she now
holds, Mr.. wood said.
The territory claimed by the
Far Eastern Republic, part OF
which is held by the Japanese. is
a rich and fertile land, capable Of
producing immense crops when
modern machinery is available" the
speaker said. Besides this terri
tory. which extends westward from
vladivostok and along the north
ern boundary Of China. there re-
main the great barren regions OF
Upper Siberia. The territory claimed
by the Far Eastern Republic IL
about the size of Texas and Cali
fornIa combined. but the rest Of
Siberia is nominally under the con-
troll OF Soviet Russia.
The section under Moscow's con-
troll also is immensely rich in min
erals, fisheries and forests. Japan
also is stalking claims in this sec
ton. but these claims result in
conflict with Moscow and not with
the Far Eastern Republic.
1T is in this upper section that
Washington Vanderlip's concessions
are located. They are immensely
rich
Recognition Not Important.
In regard to the question o.
whether America should recognize
the Far Eastern republic. Mr.. Wood
said. in his opinion, this question
was not so important to America as
was the possibility that America
will be barred from participating
in the great commercial opportuni-
ties there which are sure to spring
up in the next few years.
Japan" he said. now holds
Vladivostok. which is the terminus
Of the railroad, and also holds the
mouth Of the Amur River. the great
naviEable. waterway OF Siberia,
which can be Travelled 1000 miles
into the interior"
Mr. Wood asserted that the Far
Eastern republic was as stable as
could he cxpected when il had to
use nearly all its resources in fight
ing off invaders and revolutionists.
The problems have been impense,
he said. yet question whether
Lloyd George or Clemenceau could
have handled them more effectively
under the circumstances"
The Far Eastern republic has :
written constitution. Mr.. WOOD
said. the franchise is extended tC
all over Is. regardless of sex. re-
ligion. property or politics. and tho
rights of private property are re-
speCted. The land and all natura'
resources. he added. are held by tn"
state and leased for private use for
a rental which brings in a return
equivalent to taxes. The churcf
and state are separated. public edu-
cation is compulsory as far as tn
facilities exist, and compulsory
military service also Is enforced.
Bridge Industry Large.
Bridge building is one of the
greatest industries of the republic
Mr. Wood said, from the fact tha'
the invading and revolutionary
forces have destroyed every one o.
the 600 bridges on the Trans-Si-
berian Railroad as least once. ar'
many ~ them several times. 'Th'
railroad" he said, SIS the life artery
of the country. II Is held by the
government. but instead OF being ?
1 revenue producer. is great ex'
pense. When left there last Jr'-
the railroad men had not been paiC
their wages for eleven months. bu
| had been issued enough rations
during that time to keep then
working"
In opening. the meeting. Johr
( walsh. chairman of the forum com
mittee, announced that the Clu'
would conduct supper dances in tn
main dining-room from 1880 u. m
| to 1880 a. m. every week nigh
| from tonight on. Mr.. Wood wa'
given a vote Of thanks at the con.