861.00/6706
The Japanese Embassy to the Department of State
Having regard to the fact that Japan despatched her troops to Siberia for the purpose of rendering assistance to the Czecho-Slovak troops, it may be taken that her troops should be withdrawn, as was clearly stated in the declaration made on the occasion of their despatch, upon the completion of the evacuation of the Czechoslovak forces from Siberia. From a geographical point of view, however, Japan occupies a position in Siberia altogether distinct from that of the other Powers. More particularly, the political situation now obtaining in Eastern Siberia is not only gravely affecting the state of affairs in Korea and Manchuria, but is far from affording any assurance of the safety of the lives and property of a large number of Japanese subjects in these regions. This is the sole cause of Japan’s inability to effect the immediate withdrawal of her troops, no design whatever of a political nature being entertained in this connection. Expression is therefore again given to the sincere desire of Japan to withdraw her troops as soon as possible after the completion of the Czecho-Slovak evacuation, and as soon as the political situation in the districts bordering on her frontier becomes sufficiently settled to remove all apprehension of danger to the regions of Korea and Manchuria, and to assure the safety of the lives and property of the Japanese residents as well as the freedom of traffic.