File No. 861.85/26

The Acting Secretary of State to the Consul at Vladivostok

(Caldwell)

[Telegram]

WASHINGTON, July 20, 1918, 2 p. m.

Your 42, July 10. Nijni Novgorod, Toula and Kishinev now in service on the Atlantic. Department understands that Volunteer Fleet steamers Indighirka and Tobolsk are now held by British authorities at Hong Kong and Penza by Chinese authorities at Shanghai. It is suggested that fishermen's association should apply direct to British and Chinese authorities for release of these steamers which are already in the Pacific. You may lend your good offices in acquainting British and Chinese consuls of information you have regarding necessity for additional shipping in fishing and Kamchatka trade.

POLK

File No. 861.85/35

The Chargé in China (MacMurray) to the Secretary of State

[Telegram]

PEKING, July 26, 1918, 7 p. m.
[Received July 26, 5.15 p. m.]

Your July 20, 2 p. m.1 Steamship Penza has resumed regular journeys between Vladivostok and Shanghai and is under no control by the Chinese Government save for a special passport control exercised by the local authorities while within Chinese territorial waters. I am so informing consulate at Vladivostok.

MACMURRAY

File No. 861.85/40

The Acting Secretary of State to the Consul at Vladivostok

(Caldwell)

[Telegram]

WASHINGTON, August 7, 1918, 6 p. m. Department's [telegram of July 20, answering your] 42. British Ministry of Shipping has informed our Embassy at London that steamers Tobolsk and Indighirka are not being held at Hong Kong, but are employed in important services from which they can not be spared.

1 Not printed.

POLK

File No. 861.85/42

The Division of Operations of the United States Shipping Board Emergency Fleet Corporation (Steele) to the Assistant of the Counselor for the Department of State (Auchincloss)

WASHINGTON, August 16, 1918.

[Received August 17.]

DEAR SIR: We beg to hand you herewith copy of memorandum under date of August 9 addressed to Mr. Munson of the War Trade Board, also copy of cable from the Governor General of the Philippine Islands which only reached us August 15.1 You will note the Governor General of the Philippine Islands requests that necessary steps be taken with the Japanese Ambassador to have vessel [Simferopol] return to Manila with coal where legal proceedings may determine questions involved.

We are passing this matter on to you, and will appreciate your taking it up with the Japanese Ambassador along the above lines, at the same time keeping us advised.

Very truly yours,

[Enclosure-Extract]

Division of Operations
By SEMMES STEELE

Memorandum to Mr. Munson regarding the Russian steamer "Simferopol "

Under date of May 24, we cabled the Governor General of the Philippine Islands in accordance with your instructions to grant license, permitting the vessel to proceed from Manila in Kamchatka trade.

The vessel later asked for the permission of calling at Shanghai or Kobe to drydock, prior to proceeding in the Kamchatka trade, which permission was cabled to the Governor General of the Philippines under date of June 6. The captain later stated that the vessel had missed her season for the Kamchatka trade, and requested permission to operate in inter-island Saigon rice trade between the Philippine Islands, China, Japan and Australia, which permission was granted in accordance with your instructions under date of June 27, subject to guarantee that vessel would not touch at any Russian port. At the request of the State Department this guarantee was waived and the vessel was allowed to report to the manager of the Volunteer Fleet in Japan, and then proceed to Vladivostok. On arrival at Kobe the vessel was seized by the alleged manager of the Russian Volunteer Fleet, claiming that the captain was without authority to charter.

L. L. RICHARDS
Bureau of Transportation

J. A. ROBINSON

1

1Not printed.

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