Evening star., 1922-01-25
.HPAN,S PRESENT AIMS
IN SIBERIA REVIEWED
Hughes Indicates U. S. Hope for Earl,
Troop Withdrawal to Alay
Russian Unrest

January "a, 1922, at IL o O'CLOCK, IN the
Pan-American building.
The chairman (Mr. Hughes) made
the following statement:
The American delegation has heard
the statement by Baron Shidehara
and has taken note of the assurances
given on behalf of the japanese gov
ernment with respect to the with
drawal of japanese troops from the
maritime province of Siberia and from
the province of Sakhalin. The Amer
lean delegation has also noted the as
surance of Japan by her authorized
spokesman that 1t is her fixed and
settled policy to respect the. terri
torial integrity Of Russia. and to OBJ
serve the principle of non-interven-
tion in the internal affairs of that
country, as well as the principle OF
equal opportunity for the commerce
and industry Of all nations in every
part of the Russian possessions.
These assurances are taken to mean
that Japan does not seek. through
her military operation in Siberia, TO
impair the rights of the Russian peo-
unfair commercial advantages, or to
absorb for her own use the Siberian
fisheries. or to set up an exclusive
exploitation either of the resources
of Sakhalin or of the maritime prov
ince.
Purposes Of the Expedition.
AS Baron shidehara pointed out, the
military expedition of Japan to ST.
IBERIA was originally undertaken in
common accord and In cooperation
with the United States. 1t will be re-
called that public assurances were
given at the outset by both govern
ments of firm intention to respect
the territorial integrity of Russia and
to abstain from all interference in
Russian internal politics. In view or
the reference by Baron Shidehara to
- the participation of the American
I should like to place upon our rec
ords for transmission to the confer
ence the purposes, which were then
clearly stated by both governments.
The American governl-ent Set iot IN
its aims and policies publicly in July,
1918. The purposes of the expedition
were said to be, first, to help the
Czechoslovaks consolidate their forces;
second, to steady any efforts at self
government or self-defense in which
the Pussians themselves might he
willing to accept assistance; and.
third, 20 guard 'lne military stores at
Vladivostok.
The American government opposed
the idea of a military interyention,
but regarded military action as ad-
missibie at the time solely for the
purpose of helping the Czechosloyaks
consolidate their forces and get into
successful cooperation with their
Slavic kinsmen, and to steady any
defense in which the Russians them
selves might be willing to accept
assistance. 1t was stated that the
American government proposed to ask
all associated in this course OF action
to unite in assuring the people of
In "a n ND n
manner that none OF the governments
uniting in action either in Siberia or
in northern Russia contemplated any
Interference of any kind with the
intervention in her internal affairs. or
any impairment of her territorial In
tegrity either now or thereafter. but
that each of the associated powers
had the single object of affording
such aid as should be acceptable. and
to the Russian people in their en-
deavor to regain control of their own
affairs. their own territory and their
own destiny.
in the public statement of the Amer
tcan government at that time.
Statement by Japanese.
Tho Japanese government, with the
same purpose, set forth its position In a
statement published by the Japanese
government on August 2. 1918. in which
1t was said:
anxious to fall in with the desires of the
American government and also to act
in harmony with the allies in this expe-
ditton, have decided to proceed at once
to dispatch suitable forces for the pro-
these troops will be sent forthwith to
Vladivostok. In adopting this course
the japanese government remain un-
shaken In their constant desire to pro-
mote relations Of enduring friendship
reaffirm their avowed policy. Of respect
ing the territorial integrity Of Russia
and Of abstaining from all interference
in her internal politics. They further
projects above indicated. they will inn
mediately withdraw all Japanese troops
from Russian territory and will leave
wholly unimpaired the sovereignty of
Russia in an its phases, whether politi-
cal or military
The United States Of America with
drew its troops from Siberia in the
spring of 1920. because 1t considered that
the original purposes of the expedition
had either been accomplished or would
military activity in Siberia. The Ameri-
can government then ceased to be q
party to the expedition, but it remained
close observer Of events in eastern ST.
matte correspondence upon this subject
with the government of Japan.
1t must be frankly avowed that this
correspondence has not always dis
closed an identity of views between
51s the two governments. 1n The United
direct exposure of Japan to boil
shevism in Siberia and the. special
problems which the conditions exist
ing there have created for the Japa.
nese government, but it has been
strongly disposed to the belief that
the public assurances given by the
two governments at the inception of
the joint expedition nevertheless re-
quired the complete withdrawal Of
japanese. troops from all Russian ter
departure of the Czechos1ovak troops,
then within reasonable time.
Japan's Action Regretted.
As to the occupation of SakhaJin
IN reprisal for the massacre of the
Japanese at Nfkolaievsk, the United
States was not unimpressed by the
serious character of that catastrophe;
but, having in mind the conditions
accepted by 10th governments at the
outset of the joint expedition, Of
which the Nikolaievsk massacre must
be considered an incident. it has re-
GREETED that Japan should deem
necessary the occupation Of Russian
territory as a means of assuring a
suitable adjustment with future
Russian government.
The general position Of the Amer
lean government was set forth In q
communication to- Japan OF May 81,
1891. In that communication appears
the following statement:
'sThe government of the United
States would be untrue to the spirit
of cooperation which led It In the
summer OF 1913, upon an undsrstand.
inE with tho goYeCnmeut Of I&nan.