might in addition estop them from seeking new alliance which would, in fact, place them in a hostile position towards those powers. The General also said that delay might enable the German prisoners in Russia, numbering approximately 150,000, to become armed, in which event this will make a very formidable force in exercising authority in a country which was tired of the war and which could offer little resistance from a disorganized army. As to Rumania, the General was very emphatic in declaring that in his opinion the Allied representatives should remain there even if compelled to submit to certain abridgments of their privileges, for the people of Rumania were not only very loyal to the Allies, but would be otherwise left in a most helpless state under complete German domination. SHARP File No. 861.00/1968 Admiral Knight to the Secretary of the Navy (Daniels) [Telegram-Paraphrase] U.S.S."BROOKLYN " (AT VLADIVOSTOK), May 27, 1918. [Copy received from the Navy Department, May 28.] Résumé conditions as follows: Soviet government here and elsewhere Siberia is losing popularity and ground, while the opposing forces are becoming each day bolder. Newspapers are publishing severe attacks for which two months ago they would have been suppressed as well as the editors imprisoned. Many workingmen are uniting with professions, and Constituent [Assembly] is being demanded by salaried classes. All Siberia and parts of European Russia are reported as being in similar condition. Growing indignant at the cessions made to Germany by central government. Learn from reliable source German consulate will be in Vladivostok soon. Better class making inquiry as to why Allies do not come to assistance of Russia. Coalition of Kurds is reported by three Americans recently arrived from Caucasus. Tatars and Persians under Turkish [?] officers constituting formidable threat Mesopotamia and India. Ten thousand Czechs are now here. Have been informed they have been approached as to willingness to conduct military operations in Siberia and Russia and they are positively opposed to this, believing it would bring them at least virtually into conflict Russian faction even though the Germans are principal enemy. They are unwilling to fight any Slavic race or faction, but enthusiastically eager fight against Germany. Becoming restless over delay in transportation of which no news has been received. Present morale very high but suffering must come with prolonged stagnation. 12025. Flag, BROOKLYN File No. 861.00/1901 The Ambassador in Italy (Page) to the Secretary of State [Telegram] ROME, May 28, 1918, 3 p. m. 1669. Following is substance of a paper sent me through David Lubin, by Russian General Miller, president, and Schmurlo, vice president, at Rome of the League for Regeneration of Russia in Union with her Allies. Giers, Russian Ambassador, informs me he is in full accord with it. The press beginning to take up necessity of rushing aid to Russia as only means to prevent Germany's becoming absolute mistress there. (1) Allies cannot organize resistance against Germans in Russia without cooperation of Russians; (2) Bolshevik government is not representative of Russian (3) Bolsheviks and their government cannot be useful to Allies; (6) Allies should help Russia form a strong central govern- (7) Such a government could be formed either in or out of Russia-like government of Venizelos-and later transferred to Russia; (8) The league is an entirely non-partisan organization, looking only to salvation of Russia from Germans and Bolsheviks; (9) The league has full confidence in Russia and therefore addresses without hesitation the American people to take thenceforth upon itself charge of communicating with Russian leaders and of explaining to the Russian people the meaning and aims of Allied intervention; (10) League is now greatly hampered abroad in traveling and postal and telegraphic communications; (11) If the American Government would agree to main feature of the above program, league could enter into more detailed explanation of its plan of action. File No. 861.00/1896 NELSON PAGE The Minister in Sweden (Morris) to the Secretary of State [Telegram] STOCKHOLM, May 28, 1918, 5 p. m. [Received May 29, 10.11 a. m.] 2180. There appeared in the Swedish press an article reported having come from Washington, to the effect that the American Gov ernment would feel out the Bolshevik government in Russia as regards their desire for intervention to prevent further German aggression, and if the Bolshevik government approved of this, it was the American Government's intention to recognize the Bolshevik government and to work with them. Also that it would be the American Government's intention to send troops for Allied intervention. Referring to the above article, several people very close to the Russian conditions have called my attention to the fact that in their opinion such a course would be unwise since they claim it would alienate the sympathies of the remaining 90 per cent of the Russian people who are opposed to the Bolsheviks; the number of Bolsheviks compared to the total Russian population is, I am informed, very small, probably less than 10 per cent. I am informed that the stable people and the better element of people, all parties who have financial and landed interests, are all violently opposed to the Bolshevik government. I am informed that there is grave danger of the Germans pressing further and further in their occupation of Russia and if Allied help is not given them, these people will, of necessity, have to welcome Germany's advance. They feel that anything is better than the anarchistic conditions of to-day. In conjunction with the above, I should like to call your attention to my telegram 2174, May 27, 6 p. m., giving the views on this subject of Herman Bernstein who has just returned from Russia and is well known to you.1 . . . a Russian formerly in the employment of our naval attaché Crosley in Petrograd, and who wishes to go to London to explain the matter to the British Government, informed me while passing through Stockholm that his views were the same as those expressed above and he has formulated a plan for the Allied movement at Archangel and Murman. It is especially with these plans in view that he is proceeding to London to lay same before the British Government. I also call your attention to the papers which you now have in Washington, referred to in my telegram 1877, April 11, 5 p. m.,2 showing the connection between the Bolsheviks and the German Government. I have spoken to the British Minister in Stockholm regarding the above and he states that his views and the information he has on the Russian situation are in entire accord with this telegram and that he has cabled his Government in a similar manner. 1 'Not printed; see telegram from the Ambassador in Russia, Feb. 9-13, vol. I, p. 371. As I am entirely unfamiliar with the ideas and plans regarding our Government's views on the Russian situation, I would not give advice or make comments on this matter and am sending this cablegram to you as a matter of information received by me from extremely well-informed sources and from people who are conversant with the Russian situation. MORRIS File No. 861.00/1889 The Minister in China (Reinsch) to the Secretary of State [Telegram] PEKING, May 28, 1918, 6 p. m. Barrows reports Semenov visiting Harbin seems to have come to an understanding with Horvat probably involving Japanese and desires support, as Allied support discontinued. Semenov stated he would take Japanese help very reluctantly but would accept it as a last resort. His action may give Japan the opportunity to bring the new Chinese treaty1 into reality. REINSCH Clashes between the Czecho-Slovaks and Soviet Forces: Good Offices of American and French Consuls File No. 861.00/1962 The Ambassador in Russia (Francis) to the Secretary of State [Telegram] VOLOGDA, May 28, 1918, 7 p. m. 219. Thomson, American Consul, Omsk, wires 26th: Attempts to disarm nine echelons Czecho-Slovaks approaching Omsk caused severe fighting at station near there. Reinforcements being sent from here. Omsk proclaimed state of siege. Please wire acknowledgment. These Czechs were Austrian prisoners of war in Russian military camps and appear to have been armed for fighting enemy, but when Russian Army demobilized started for France to join Allied forces, some going via Murman, some Archangel, and others Vladivostok; suppose these portion thereof. Have heard that other detachments proceeding eastward were also disarmed but disarming regret [table], 1 See Foreign Relations, 1918, pp. 106 and 222. as such troops possibly available for resisting prisoners loyal to Central Empires who would probably be armed by Germany for resisting Allied intervention. In this connection I had a call yesterday from a representative of united Polish parties; said that about sixty thousand Polish prisoners in prison camps around Perm who would earnestly fight Germany if armed. Am endeavoring to keep in touch with them and all such. FRANCIS File No. 861.00/1969 The Secretary of State to the Japanese Ambassador (Ishii) WASHINGTON, May 29, 1918. MY DEAR MR. AMBASSADOR: I have received your letter of May 4, 1918, and am indebted to you for bringing to my attention the statement of Ambassador Francis, published in the Official Bulletin of April 18, 1918, in regard to the landing of Japanese forces at Vladivostok. The Ambassador's statement was undoubtedly prompted by the discovery that the importance of the landing was being magnified in Russia and the action of the Japanese and British Admirals being used there to the prejudice of the powers at war with Germany, who were apparently being represented as beginning an intervention in Russian affairs by a concerted military movement in Siberia. Knowing that this was not true, he seems to have felt called upon to correct such misinterpretation of the incident, but while immediate action was needed to check the propaganda of the enemy, it was impossible at the time for the Ambassador to have received a complete account of the circumstances attending the landing. I shall be glad to acquaint him with the facts as stated in your letter under acknowledgment and also to inform the Committee on Public Information so that a more accurate account of the incident may be published. I am [etc.] File No. 861.00/1926 ROBERT LANSING The Consul at Vladivostok (Caldwell) to the Secretary of State1 [Telegram] VLADIVOSTOK, May 29, 1918, 11 a. m. [Received June 2, 1.45 a. m.] Just received from United States Consul General Harris, Irkutsk, a telegram stating Czecho-Slovak troops fighting with armed pris 'Sent via the Consulate General at Yokohama. |