The Union daily times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1918-current, 1922-02-07
Japan's Siberian Policy

tions in Siberia; she will not take
single square foot of territory, and
the minute the Red menace is settled
she will withdraw every soldier" Now
the Japanese ambassador to the Unit
ed States has assured the Far East
Conference that the military occupa-
ton of Russian territory "is only a
temporary measure and will naturally
come to an end as soon as a satisfac
tory solution of the question shall
have been arranged with an orderly
Russian government. 1t is the fixed
and settled policy of Japan to respect
the territorial integrity of Russia to
observe the principle of non-interven-
ton in the internal affairs of that
country"
Commenting on Premier Hara's
statement of 1920 the Louisville Post
remarked at that time that it was not
altogether promising, since Japan is
70 be the Judge" of an orderly condi-
ton in Russia which would make with
drawal possible. Further the utter
lack of any suggested time limit on
the occupation reminded the Post that
England went into Egypt 25 or more
years ago with no intention of staying
there, but England is in Egypt today"
The Post was expressing the pre-
vailing newspaper sentiment on the
Hara declaration of two years ago.
but it is just as good an indev to the
'pinions of the press on Baron Shide-
hara's declaration Of last week. ia.
pan's position is a classic" one, the
New York Times reminds us, and the
Siberian question is obviously "no
ne to start shower of stones thrown
rom international glass houses" Thr
eply of the japanese government, j
,oitns out, els much the same as tha
which the English government forty
ears ago gave in regard to withdraw
lg from Egypt Even our own gov
rnment "is always consumed wit
nNiety to remove military pressure
rom Haiti, Santo Domingo and Mica
aqua, and "to leave them free to dc
elop their own institution, but some
low the exact hour does not arrive"
But in Japan's case it is q matte
# "a violated pledge" as many writ
RS see it. The Providence Journa
ellis the story thus:
"The Japanese went into Siberi
nth the Americans, British an
'rench during the war. The Czechc
'ovaks, fighting by the side of tn
'ussians were then in danger and VA
able military stores at Vladivosto'
eeded guarding. The agreement VIZ
hat each nation should furnish ar.
rroximately seven thousand troop,
''hich were 10 be withdrawn when th'
riginal purpose of the expedition h"
'een csrried ouk. The Americans, Bri'
III and French retired long ago. Nc
Ny have the panese remained, b.
hey have inc 1eed their forces t
etweensd dft seventy thousan
nen. hEy asurped, the. trad
the region Wey 20ccnpy, taken OV'
he fisheries 81 In other ways il
'ringed on Russian rights under tn
ruise of self-pfotection."
Thus Japan in the opinion of tn,
Washington Post islands inthe att
rude of changing the nature of the er
"and Of her troops, contrary to he
promise to the United States" Never
heless the Utica Press holds that "th
'acts, so far as known" sustain ia
ans contention "that maintenance
ner forces in eastern Siberia is nee
ssary because the country is in
i~ordered and chaotic state" Ac
dinghy it is reasonable thatevacr
ton should not be undertaken "unti
here is a stable, responsible govel,
rent established there"
But "who is to be the judge of VIII
political stability isl" asks the Le,
,gton Leader, or "when it is attaine'
nd what Japanese security demands
: is perfectly evident that, restin
er promise of ultimate withdrawal {
uch basis, Japan can remain j
astern Siberia as long as it suits he
>urpose." That purpose, as the Louis
lille Post sees it, is not territorial
aggression, but to get "the money
Russia owes her. That she will have
and the Post thinks Japan has no dce
rf withdrawing her troops until she
gets it.
at is idle to talk of any pcopl,
establishing a strong stable govern
ment while foreign army occupies
heir territory and hampers and sub.
erts the governmental efforts of thc
eople,' declares the Watcrbur!
Comm Republican and ait is obviou
hat Japan continues to occupy east
m Siberia and follow the same polio
he has been following the Russian
i'll never be able to establish a 90,
nment that Japan will consider ST;
e. To get around the difficult
h!ch the Philadelphia Public Ledge
nd also sees in determining "C!
ability of any government anywhcr
r an unstable Russia" the Spring
ED Republican suggests "interna.