Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-01-24
JAPAN DENIES
AREA DESIGNS
UPON SIBERIA
Arms arley Delegates
in Statement Assert
Troops to Be Removed
Declaration Is Made
to Far Eastern Com
mittee by Shidehara.

Washington, Jan. 23--(By The As
ISOLATED Press).-A statement declar-
ing that Japan had no territorial de-
signs in Russia, and giving assurance
| that Japanese troops would be with
drawn as soon as stable government
should be established there was made
| Monday by the Japanese delegation at
the meeting of the far eastern commit
| tee.
The Japanese statement was pre-
scented by Baron Shidehara. After
hearing his statement on Siberia, the
committee proceeded with the question
| of the status of existing commitments
under points six and seven of the Chi
nese ten points submitted at the be-
ginning of the conference.
/ Full discussion was deferred, how
ever, pending presentation by China Of
ia full list. which she was asked by the
| committee tc make.
| The japanese disclaimer of any Rus
sian territorial ambitions were said to
| include Saghalien as we'll as other pOr-
tons of Siberia.
| The Japanese statement of policy as
outlined by Baron Shidehara included
the following:
Nothing is further from the
thoughts Of the Japanese government
than to take advantage of the present
| helpless condition of Russia for prose-
| cutting selfish designs. Japan realizes
| with deep regret and appreciation the
| large role which Russia played in the
interest Of civilization during the earl
| Ter stages of the great war.
Japanese people have shown and
will continue to show every sympa-
thetic interest in the efforts of pat
riotic Russians as to the unity and re-
Mobilization of their country. The mil
itary occupation of the Russian prov
ince of Hakhalif is only a temporary
measure and will probably come to an
| end as soon as satisfactory settlement
Of the question has been arrived at
with an orderly Russian government
Big Five" Accept 1t
There was no indication that any Of
the big five" delegations would OPP
pose acceptance of Japan's declaration
at it's face value, or seriously dispute
the plan Of continuing, for the present,
Japanese occupation of Siberian soil
The general view was that the whole
for the first time, soon would be dis
posed of on the basis of the Japanese
pledges.
The long continued Shantung nego-
tiations also approached their conclu-'
sion. At their 31st meeting the Jap
anese and Chinese virtually completed
an agreement on all issues involved
except the central question Of the Tsin
Tao-Tsinan Flu railroad, and there
were signs of impending developments
regarding that Ma 500, Washington
representative of the unrecognized
Chinese government of Canton, an
al Nv
had been reached.
In connection with the japanese
statement regarding Siberia, it was re-
vealed that the American government
had addressed communication on
that subject to Toxic shortly before
the conference met and that the jap
anese foreign office had replied vir-
tually in the same terms laid down at
Mondays committee meeting by Baron
Shidehara.
Impressed by Statement
The American note was said to have
pointed out that the American forces
having been withdrawn from Siberia,
there was much speculation as to why
Japanese troops remained.
It was learned that the American
government was deeply impressed with
the japanese statement and was dis
posed to regard it as d solemn pledge
behind which the conference could not
properly go. Moreover. in both Amer
lean and British circles, it was con-
ceded there might be much justice in
the claim that present conditions in
Siberia make some outside protection
necessary to safeguard the rights of
foreign nationals.
The Chinese declined to reveal
their attitude toward the Japanese
policy and the only note of criticism
came from outside the conference in
statement issued by the delegation
sent to Washington by the unrecog-
nized Far Eastern republic of Chita.
japanese promises Of withdrawal from
Siberian soil, the statement declared,
had been a Chronic statement of
Toxic since August 1920