Departure of Mr. Stevens: Japan's Troops Expected to Leave Mr. John F. Stevens, President of the Technical Board of the Inter-Allied Commission in Siberia, sailed on Thursday afternoon on the T. K. K. 8, Siberia Mara for Har bin by way of Vladivostok. The six members of the Technical Board remaining, who represent Great Britain, America, France, Japan, China and Russia, wil! remain until the termination of the agreement which states that they shall remain as long as Allied troops are in Siberia. Japamese troops still occupy tho territory, so it is necessary for the Board to continue there. Mr. Stevens has been in America for the past year, having attended the Arms Conference to report and advise on Siberian affairs. He expresses himself very optimistically in regard to the situation saying that he anticipates no long delay on the part of the Japanese in withdrawing their troops as a result of Secretary Hughes' statement on the matter.
regard to affairs in America, Mr. Stevens said: The coal strike is not likely to be of long duration. The whole trouble arises from the fact that many labourers had not paid their share of maintenance to the union organization and the latter in order to collect, had proposed that these dues be taken from the workmen's wages. Compliance with that request involved official recognition of the unions on the part of operators which they were not willing to grant. However, the fact that no_ strong grievance is behind the strike will no doubt make it possible to com to an early settlement. As a matter of fact, the United States has over-produced coal for the past three years and the surplus will now prevent any great hardship. The coming on of the warm weather eliminates heating difficulties. railroads and manufactures—still have reserve supplies sufficient to carry them for three months, at least, by which time the strike will no doubt be over. Business in general is picking up.'"
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.