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The Far Eastern Republic: A Product of Intervention

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 May 2017

Extract

The circumstances which led to the creation of the Far Eastern Republic as a new Russian state on terms of such perfect amity with the mother country that it was recognized immediately by her and received her warm financial and diplomatic support run back to the revolutions of 1917 in Russia. In Siberia the March Revolution was heartily welcomed and the Zemstvos took over the government. The bulk of the population was content with the abolition of Tzarism but the minority of communists started a Bolshevistic propaganda which succeeded after the November revolution, due to the energy of the communists, the armed help of Moscow and the apathy of the peasants. There was, however, a second minority composed of supporters of the old regime and its opposition to the organization of a soviet system in Siberia led to civil war.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © American Society of International Law 1924

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References

1 Bullard, A.,The Russian Pendulum, Chaps.XX-XXV.Google Scholar

2 Reinsch, P. S.Japan's Lone Hand” , in Asia, Vol. XX, Feb. and Mar. 1920, pp. 164171.Google Scholar

3 Ackerman,, C. W.Japan's Ambitions in Siberia” , in Current History, April, 1919, pp.109-109.Google Scholar

4 The published statements vary concerning the numbers actually despatched to Siberia. The Japanese War Office stated on Jan. 31, 1919, that up to Nov. 1,1918, a total of 73,400 troops had been sent over but that 13,800 of these were recalled in the succeeding months and that 34,000 more were to be recalled, 20,000 in January and February, 1919. (Current History, Apr. 1919, p. 121.) According to the Statesman's Year Book, 1921, the Japanese forces had been reduced to 39,000 at the end of 1919, but were increased to 50,000 in the spring of 1920. Figures given to the writer by the Japanese Legation at Peking were far smaller than any cited above. In 1921, after the evacuation of Baikalia, reduction again took place. When the order to evacuate the mainland of Siberia was issued Japan had approximately 25,000 men in the Maritime Province. Between 5,000 and 6,000 troops were left in Northern Sakhalin. Of the troops of the other Powers, the United States sent 9.000, China 2,000, Great Britain, France and Italy 1,500 each.

5 Japanese Intervention in the Russian Far East, pamphlet published by the Special Delegation of the Far Eastern Republic to the United States of America, Washington, 1922, pp. 29-29; also Current History, Sept. 1920, p. 1086.

6 Japanese Intervention, pp. 115-115.

7 See article by Capt. Graves, S. C. entitled “Japanese Aggression in Siberia” in Current History, May, 1921, pp. 239-239;Google Scholar also evidence of Major-General Graves, who commanded the American forces in Siberia, and Col. Morrow, given before the Senate Committee, April, 1922.

8 Article by Dr.Reinsch, quoted above.

9 The President of the Far Eastern Republic” , by V., H. V. Fay, in Asia, Vol. XXI, Oct. 1921, pp. 876-876,894.Google Scholar

10 The “ Merkulov Brothers” were not displaced until August 8, 1922, when General Dieterichs, another “ White” leader, was elected to head the Government. Peking and Tientsin Times, Aug. 16, 1922.

11 See Peking and Tientsin Times, April 20 and 24, 1922.

12 Ibid., Jan. 7,1922. The published documents state the condition made by France that “ there should be no idea of permanent occupation or annexation.”

13 “ Vice-Minister of War Kojima stated recently that there were twenty-nine Japanese companies in Northern Sakhalin, four concerned with forestry, six in mining, seven with oil and twelve with fisheries.Peking and Tientsin Times, Sept. 5,1922.

14 The “White” Government at Vladivostok was not represented.

15 “ Statement of Russian Delegations, Peking Leader, Sept. 14,1922.

16 The munitions were the property of the Soviet Government as the successor of the former government of Russia to which they had been sold but which had not paid for them.

17 Japan Chronicle (Wily ed.), Sept. 7-7, 1922; Peking and Tientsin Times, Sept. 1922.