This conclusion of the Government clears the way for Uchida to transmit instructions to Shidehara for his guidance in discussing the entire situation with you.

MORRIS

861.77/1225: Telegram

The Ambassador in Japan (Morris) to the Secretary of State

TOKYO, December 2, 1919, 1 p.m. [Received 2:35 p.m.] Department's November 12, 5 p.m. Following reply today received from Foreign Office.

56

"I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of Your Excellency's note of the 15th ultimo, relative to the duties of the Allied forces in Siberia.

I beg leave to state that it is a cause for profound gratification to the Imperial Government as, no doubt, also to that of the United States, not only in the interest of the future relations of the two Powers, but also in that of their common friend Russia, that the present question has reached an amicable solution as the result of mutual good understanding brought about by a frank and straightforward exchange of views.

Further in view of the great interest, which the Governments of Great Britain, France, Italy and China will unquestionably take in the satisfactory settlement of the present question, I venture to think it desirable that the Government of the United States cause a copy of the aforementioned note of Your Excellency to be sent to each of the four governments and also to the Russian Ambassador at Washington.

Trusting that Your Excellency will be so kind as to take the trouble to advise your government in the above sense". Signed Uchida.

MORRIS

861.77/1225: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Japan (Morris)

WASHINGTON, December 5, 1919, 1 p.m. Your December 2, 1 p.m. You may inform Japanese Foreign Office that substance of Department's November 12, 5 p.m., was telegraphed for communication to the British, French and Italian Governments on November 22.57 You were requested to communicate it to Peking for communication to Chinese Government on November 19, 2 p.m.57

LANSING

CHAPTER III

THE NORTHERN REGION

Withdrawal of Allied and American Support of the Provisional Government in Northern Russia

861.00/3575: Telegram

The Chargé in Russia (Poole) to the Acting Secretary of State

ARCHANGEL, January 3, 1919, 3 p.m.

[Received January 4, 6:21 a.m.] 720. To Paris also. Since my 664, December 17th, 5 p.m.1 the situation in Archangel has continued quiet and satisfactory to me.

A small military operation was undertaken early this week designed to straighten out the front and drive the Bolsheviki from one or [omission] points whence they had been inflicting desultory losses on the Allied troops. The operation partly miscarried owing to the failure of certain Russian partisan troops, as well as difficulties encountered by other troops, depth [sic] of advancing through snow. But an American column attained one of the objectives, inflicting heavy losses upon a greatly superior number of Bolsheviki, the Americans having seven killed and 30 other casualties. General Ironside commends the American action as very gallant and excellently planned.

Russian partisan troops formed spontaneously by peasants from villages which have been outraged by the Bolsheviki number about 1,500 and had seemed one of the more promising features of the situation. The circumstances of their failure as noted above are not yet fully known.

POOLE

861.00/3619: Telegram

The Chargé in Russia (Poole) to the Acting Secretary of State

ARCHANGEL, January 9, 1919, 6 p.m.

[Received January 10, 10:34 p.m.] 736. The general impression obtained of the enemy from operations reported Embassy's 720, January 3rd, 3 p.m. is some increase

1Foreign Relations, 1918, Russia, vol. II, p. 577.

Maj. Gen. Sir William Edmund Ironside, British commander in chief of the Allied forces in northern Russia.

604

in his number and a certain improvement in discipline, organization, and morale, although his continued marked inferiority to American troops is shown by the success of the latter in driving five times their number from a prepared position. Below is summarized a report of conversations with Bolsheviki prisoners by Doolittle, who accompanied the American column during this attack:

"Prisoners were well fed and clothed, uniform better suited to Russian conditions than that of Allies. Had received 300 roubles monthly pay. Were from a mobilized or conscript regiment officered by about 75 men, for the most part former non-commissioned officers in the imperial armies. Bearing of leaders among men comradely, no marked distinctions of rank and file, but orders emanating from staff strictly carried out and no meetings allowed at the front. One had been attempted a few days previously but was broken up with machine guns. Mobilization being carried out in northern provinces, ages 16 to 48, with a view to forming army of 200,000 of this front. Rumor widespread that a general attack will be made about Easter, which will aim to cut communication between Murman and Archangel forces and crush latter. Prisoners evinced faith in their leaders and had generally confident tone. Bolsheviki carry on strong, well-directed propaganda among own troops as well as endeavoring to influence Allied forces."

It is understood that former Russian war prisoners returning from Germany are offered large pay serve in Red armies, also being forced in. Only small number have so far been able to elude the Bolsheviki and reach their homes inside of Allied lines in this region.

To Paris as well.

POOLE

861.48/741: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Chargé in Russia (Poole)

WASHINGTON, January 16, 1919, 7 p.m. 448. Money allotted our share Murmansk work exhausted. Following cable received from Embassy London:

"Foreign Office state that the sum so far encashed from sale of foodstuffs to civilian population at Archangel is 22,238,000 rubles, and that some considerable return on the expenditures already made by the Allies may therefore be expected."

What are your recommendations regarding use of our share of this amount and other sums thus realized as a revolving fund to be expended for Murmansk relief? Consult Cole. Answer quickly.

POLK

861.48/746: Telegram

The Chargé in Russia (Poole) to the Acting Secretary of State

ARCHANGEL, January 18, 1919, 8 p.m.

[Received January 19, 5 a.m.]

3

760. In reply to Department's telegram 448, January 16, 7 p.m. In [If?] our allotment is $5,000,000, as I am informed by Lindley, it is impossible that it has been exhausted for Murman alone. It must be for entire North Russian Relief. The 22,000,000 odd roubles collected to date at Archangel have been currently disbursed chiefly to pay customs duty on the food imported and to the British military and naval authorities for current local needs of Allied base expedition. Availability of our one-third share of the credit thereby created depends on the arrangements which have been made with the British Government for the partition of the expenses of North Russian intervention. If this credit need not be applied to our share of such expenses it would be desirable to use it for purchase of further food supplies for Murman and Archangel and it is essential that relief work be kept up. The food is being sold at prices calculated sufficient to cover cost and all expenses stated above supported by voucher. Committee should therefore eventually collect nearly the whole sum spent for food allowing for a small proportion of bad debts et cetera. At Murman no cash has been received to date, the food being issued in lieu of arrears of wages owed by Murman railway port authorities, etc., so that only a book credit against a future Russian government has been created. As back wages have now been obviated in part, cash receipts should begin.

POOLE

861.00/3713: Telegram

The Chargé in Russia (Poole) to the Acting Secretary of State

ARCHANGEL, January 23, 1919, 8 p.m.

[Received January 25, 3:02 a.m.] 781. To Paris as Number 15, same date. In recent actions near Ust Padenga on the Dvina River front, American casualties as officially reported but not yet finally confirmed, 10 killed, 17 wounded, 11 missing. According to today's report Allied position around. Shenkursk being attacked from three sides. Evacuation of Ust Padenga has been necessary and the Allied troops to the west and east of Shenkursk are falling back on that point under pressure of greatly superior numbers. The Military Attaché informs me that

'Francis O. Lindley, British Commissioner in Russia.

the situation of our forces embracing two companies of Americans, two of Russians, and a small detachment of British is considered serious.

This information adds to uneasiness about the military situation, which has been growing since the effective miscarriage of the offensive operation reported in the Embassy's 720, January 3, 3 p.m. In response to the Embassy's request the Military Attaché has prepared a confidential memorandum on the situation which is commended to the Department's careful consideration. Memorandum follows:

"The military situation of American and Allied troops in northern Russia is considered by most officers to be very unsatisfactory. Our American troops are widely scattered over the entire front from Indus through [Onega along] the railroad, Vaga and Dvina river[s] to Pinega, occupying more than a dozen positions. Owing to this extension there is seldom more than one company serving at one position and frequently the companies are broken up and the platoons separated. Communications are slow and difficult, many being separated by several days' travel. The enemy greatly outnumbers us both in men and artillery; his morale, numbers and efficiency have increased (see Embassy's 736, January 9,6 p.m.). We are more and more put upon the defensive, subjected to more and more frequent attacks and bombardment suffering many casualties. We have no reserves. Our men are often called upon to remain on duty for long periods without relief. There has been much criticism of the commanding officers, almost always British, and in some cases this has been amply justified. Owing to the increasing strength and morale of the enemy and his apparent intention to start a vigorous offensive later on, I am of the opinion that there is considerable danger that we shall be compelled to evacuate most of our advanced positions with grave possibilities of heavy losses both [in] men and supplies. Successful operations westward from Perm would of course tend to relieve the situation here, also possible events in the Petrograd region."

POOLE

861.00/3682: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Chargé in Russia (Poole)

WASHINGTON, January 24, 1919, 2 p.m. Telegraph American Mission Paris and Department at once answers to following: "1st, what is present attitude of the Russians towards Allied intervention? 2d, what is the attitude of the Archangel Government toward Kolchak? 3d, what are plans of Archangel Government for spring campaign? 4th, to what extent is present Government supported in and outside Archangel?

POLK

For answers see telegrams from the Chargé in Russia, no. 793, Jan. 27, 3 p.m., p. 608, no. 794, Jan. 27, 4 p.m., p. 610, and no. 812, Jan. 30, 5 p.m., p. 37.