New-York tribune., 1922-01-08
of Siberia Presses for Solution by the Conference
Chita Governments CHARGE
Emphasizes Far East Tanele
That and Trotzky's Threat Against Japan Show the
Urgency of Problem of the Far East; Boil
shevism ls Not the Only Issue

J again restive under y revolutionary
movement.
What. thcn, is Japan's intention in
regard to Siberia? What is the status
Of Tho Chita government? Wow is
China eoncerned7 And what business
is It Of the United States!
Two events have served to ON
Phssise The potential danger lurking
in a disturbed Siberia. One was
| 1rotxky's threat. The other was the
charge Of the unrecognizcd Chits dele
cation here that France and Japan,
through secret treaties concluded only
last year, connived to give to Franco
exclusive privileges and to Japan a
virtual suzeraiYty over Siberia by an
initiating the Chita republic and set
ting up a monarchy, friendly to Japan.
The Chita charges were officially de-
MED, but they have made an impress
sion in Washington that the Siberian
problem is pressing FOR solution.
Americas attitude is, of course,
purely moral one. She is seeking no
privileges in Siberia not accorded to
all nations. She desires that the open
door shalt apply there as in Chns. For
this reason she is holding Japan to her
pledge that tho Japanese occupation Of
strategic points ;s merely temporary
and ezpedient, that the troops are to
be Withdrawn as soon as Japanese in
tercsts cease to be jcopardized and that
Siberia ie to be permitted to develop
her own destiny. Stripped Of their
diplomatic verbiage, Americas notes TO
Japan have said. Get out of Siberia
and get cut as quickly as possible"
$1,000 Japanese Troops
In Siberia in 1919
Japsn's pledge was given early in the
spring Of 1913. At that time she was
considering intervention in Siberia.
President Wilson at first opposed the
plan, but few months later it was an
nouneed that 1000 American troops.
under Major General William S. Graves.
with an equal number Of Japanese
troops, would enter Siberia to coop
crate with the CzechorSlovaks in un-
.dertaking to clear Siberia of Austrians
and Germans. liberated prisoners of
war, who had been trying to control
that vast region. The other nations
followed. In September, 1919, Secrc-
tasy Of War Baker reported that there
were $4,000 Japanese troops in Siberia,
as against 8.477 Americans, 1,42e Brit
ish, 1900 Italians and 1,o7e French.
Up to that time Japan had expended
100000, 900 yen on the Siberian expcdi-
tion.
50, while every other nation with
drew. Japan remained. She has there
now 10000 or more troops. She con.
trolls the fortress Of Yladivostok and
more than 1000 miles of the Trans.
Siberian Railway. Given the southern
half Of Sagha!in Island BY the Treaty
ol Portsmouth, she now occupies the
northern hal{ as redress for the mas
saere in 1920 Of somo Japanese soldiers
IN Nieho!aevsk, on the mainland. More
over, the Moscow government and the
Ch'ta government assert that Japanese
troops are cooperating with the Rus
sian snti-Bolshevik forces, and that
she Is interfering in the internal af-
fairs Of Siberia.
In order that the Siberian situation
may DO fairly and clearly understood
It is necessary, first, to present the
charges which the liberal Russians