New-York tribune., 1922-01-24
shidchara Makes Catcgov.
ical Pledge in Reply
TO Demand Of u. $.
for a Definite Statement
Solution OF Far
East issues Near
New Concessions by Toxic
o'' Shant''ng Expected
to Satisfy the Chinese
By Thomas Steep

WASHINGTON, Jan 23. Siberian
issues were laid before the conference
committee on Pacific and Far Eastern
questions to-day with d categorical
pledge given to the powers by Baron
Japanese Ambassador. that
Japan would withdraw her 10000 troops
from Siberia and that she would re
tam no exclusive advantages either in
Siberia or other parts of Russia Baron
Shidchara explained that the with
draWai Of Japanese troops from the
maritime province was being "seriouslv
considered" although his country. nc
Ncded, would hc compellcd TO occupv
the north. or Russian, half Of Sagha-
I'm Island until reparatons were OBJ
tanned for the massacre at Nikolacvsk
in 1920 of 700 Japanese nationals.
"The Japanese delegation" said the
Ambassador rising to speak just after
Secretary Of State Hughes announced
that Siberian questions had been
reached on the conference agenda, SIS
authorized to declare that it is the
hXed and settled policy Of Japan to
respect the territorial integrity of Rus
sia ana to observe the principle of non
intervention in the internal affairs Of
that country, as we'll as the principle
Of equal opportunity for the commerce
and industry of all nations in every
part of the Russian possessions.'
Pledge Held Adequate
From the American viewpoint the
pledge given by the japanese Ambassa-
dor "makes it morally impossible for
Japan to remain indefinitely in Sbc-
ria. The spokesman for the American
delegation emphasized with vigor this
governments desire to have a definite
statement of Japan's intentions. 1t was
pointed out that Japan, when sending
her army into Siberia in 1918, with
those of other nations. had promised to
withdraw, that instead Of withdrawing
she had remained and had kept there
ten times more forces than had been
originally sent by the other powers
that the Japanese troops frequently
had been the source of friction with
Russians, and that this government as
late as last June had sent protest to
Toxic against the continued presence Of
cdPoiNoC u OOPS III RuSSIdI ttTIILOIN.
Consequently to-day's emphatic
satisfaction among the American dele
gates. AS the American spokesman
put it, Japan has pledged herself in
regard to evacuating Siberia in Ian
guage that could not be more definite
categorical and unequivocal."
Baron Shidehara's concrete state
ment is not regarded as conflicting
with the assertion Of Foreign Minister
Uchida before the Diet in Toxic on
remain in Siberia "for the present" "
because no date was spoken of in
either case and both officials re-
fcrrcd to the establishment of a
stable Siberian government which
Japan considers essential to her inter-
csts.
Solution Believed Near
Consideration of the Siberian prob
lens, set as the last item on the
agcnda. is believed to forecast the end
Of the Far Eastern part Of the Confer
cnce for the Limitation of Armament.
New orders have been received from
Toxic regarding Shantung. so that a
settlement Of that controversy is ap-
preaching. The Mikado's govern
ment is believed to have decided to
yield ShantunS TO SuCn an eHIeHC as
to Justify the Chinese delegates in
their purpose-the return Of the prov
ince within limited period on the
payment by China for Japanese invest
mcnts in the Shantung Railway.
After Chnas historic battle for the
restoration OF Shantung has been
ended, the whole future of China will
be dealt with in a nine-power agree
ment by which the powers will bind
themselves to put into practice the
principles adopted by the conference.
The last obstacle to the settlement
of the Shantung controversy, except
that of the Tsingtao oTsinan Railway,
was removed to-day when the Japanese
and Chinese delegates in direct negoti-
ations reached an agreement on the
salt fields in the province. Japan
agreed to restore the salt industry to
China on compensation for Japanese
investments. The date for the return
of the property was held in abeyance
pending a decision on Shantung as a
whole. Tomorrow the negotiations
will be resumed to settle minor points.
BY Wednesday the main issue, involv-
Continued on next pagc)