Decision by the Allies to Begin Evacuation of the Czechoslovak Forces, and Commitments by the United States to Assist in Their Repatriation 861.24/116: Telegram The Consul at Vladivostok (Caldwell) to the Acting Secretary of State VLADIVOSTOK, January 17, 1919, noon. [Received January 19, 3 p.m.] 8. War supplies are arriving here for Czecho-Slovaks in such quantity that they certainly will not use them in Russia as they are no longer fighting on large scale and may soon cease all war operations in Russia and return home, in which case they would not be able to take war supplies with them. It is very doubtful whether CzechoSlovaks will ever move some of their war supplies from here. Result will be that some Russian aristocratic force will ultimately receive large part these supplies; and this condition is brought to Department's attention because I am not certain whether such a final disposition of supplies would be regarded favorably by the Department and because any unnecessary supplies which are allowed to lie here add to congestion of this port which is again becoming bad owing to inability of railroad to move freight and to occupation of warehouses and storage spaces by the various Allied military forces. Russian Volunteer Fleet state they contemplate stopping their regular service to Japan and Shanghai because there is no place here to deposit cargo and they cannot afford to run for passengers only. It would be helpful if we could be informed of source from which Czecho-Slovaks obtained money for purchase these supplies. It is reported that the President made Czecho-Slovaks a gift of $5,000,000 from his special fund and that Crimea [Czechs?] received loan of $7,000,000 from the United States. Can I be authorized to deny or confirm either report? CALDWELL 861.00/3803 a: Telegram The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in France (Sharp) WASHINGTON, January 25, 1919, 8 p.m. 7147. For Am [erican] mission and McCormick 82 to note last sentence. Following cable received by War Department from General Graves at Vladivostok. 82 Vance McCormick, chairman of the War Trade Board and technical adviser to the Commission to Negotiate Peace. "141. January 20. There are indications that Czech situation in Siberia is serious. General Stefanik now en route home. Czech officers here deny that there is any serious trouble. Information from American sources in Western Siberia and from those returning from Urals cause me to think the Czechs can not be held in Siberia much longer. Property recently received from the United States for Czechs is not being shipped west." 861.00/3746: Telegram POLK The Minister in China (Reinsch) to the Acting Secretary of State PEKING, undated. [Received January 27, 1919, 10:40 p.m.] Following from [Harris at] Omsk. 66 52, January 25, 5 p.m. Suggest [Summary] position Czechs in Siberia today's date. The Czechs are Social Revolutionary in their tendencies and practically all wish to return to Bohemia now, irrespective of what consequences might follow such action. In their attitude toward their home country, Bohemia, they desire republic and do not anticipate internal troubles there. Believe therefore party accounts [sic] in Bohemia will be divided between commercial and industrial interests, but will not include class struggle. However, as Czechs now in Siberia hold extreme leaning to the Left, it is probable there will be a discordant element for some time after their return to Bohemia. In Siberia the Czechs have the best of every thing while the Russians are poorly clothed and fed. They have the best buildings for hospitals and barracks. According to figure furnished by railroad in Omsk Czech officers now hold and live in 485 salon and firstclass railroad carriages which are badly needed in the service. This is an unnecessarily large number. Recently in Cheliabinsk Czechs delayed, and appropriated for their own use, two sanitary trains for weeks and refused permit Russians send them to the front stating that they were being held for American Red Cross. According to Doctor Teusler Czechs were not telling truth. Apparently Czechs in various parts of Siberia have been implicated in speculation and utilizing their special privilege for personal profit. In Ekaterinburg Czechs are being quartered in villages all over district and only small number in each place. This is done in order to prevent political agitation. Since Siberian troops captured Perm they are held in somewhat better esteem by Czechs although generally speaking their attitude is still one of contempt. Siberian General Pepelyaev was very bitter against Czechs for not properly supporting him in actions succeeding capture of Perm. General trend of opinion among Czechs now is more favorable towards Kolchak, but as a rule they believe that Allies must assist in deciding fate of Russia. Among enlightened Czechs the opinion prevails that a liberal constitutional monarchy may unfortunately be necessary as the great illiterate mass of fanatical people in Russia makes a republic untimely. The Czech soldiers are agitating and pressing their leaders to arrange their passage home via Vladivostok. Evident that few are now willing to fight. They are peevish because the Allies did not hasten to their assistance on the western Siberian and Volga fronts. It was this spirit of dissatisfaction that caused them to evacuate Samara when in all probabilities such a step was not fully necessary if Czechs had remained in a mood to do their duty. While it was true that they have borne the brunt of this fighting, yet it must not be forgotten that the Allied soldiers in France at that time, in defeating Germany, [were] accomplishing more for Bohemian freedom than the Czechs in Siberia. A soldier means to do his duty at all times, but the Czech is not doing his at present in Siberia. His behavior only encourages the Bolsheviks who, through their spies, are kept fully informed. As the Czechs apparently decided not to participate further in the campaign against the Bolsheviks it would be extremely desirable if they could be entirely eliminated from the situation, but this is impracticable owing to the disastrous moral effect it would have on Russian troops, and on the contrary, like degree, stimulate the efforts of the Bolsheviks. There after [Therefore] it would be unwise to remove Czech troops from Siberia, but if they are to remain as spectators the Allies should impress upon them the necessity of setting a better example. Although the officers may wish to fight at the front, the soldiers have practically taken matters into their own hands and make their own decision, all of which has a demoralizing effect on the situation at large. Harris.” REINSCH 861.00/3739: Telegram The Minister in China (Reinsch) to the Acting Secretary of State PEKING, undated. [Received January 28, 1919, 7:08 a.m.] Following from [Harris at] Omsk. "58, January 27, 11 a.m. Referring my January 25th, 5 p.m.83 It appears now definitely arranged that Czech troops are to be withdrawn and placed at strategic points from Ekaterinburg and Chelia binsk to Irkutsk to guard railroad and prevent Bolsheviks uprising. The plan is excellent providing Czech soldiers agree to it. Harris.” REINSCH 861.24/121: Telegram The Acting Secretary of State to the Consul at Vladivostok (Caldwell) WASHINGTON, January 29, 1919, 1 p.m. Your 8, January 17, 12 noon, was referred to Am[erican] mission Paris which replies as follows under date of January 25: "Secretary Lansing and McCormick recommend American Consulate Vladivostok be advised as follows: [] The Czecho-Slovaks National Council, after its recognition by the United States as a de facto belligerent government, received a loan from the United States Government of $7,000,000 to be employed in the purchase of war supplies in the United States. It is primarily with the credit thus created that the shipments to which you refer have been made although presumably some portion of cargoes have been contributed by British Government and by Russian Embassy Washington, D. C. You are authorized if you see fit, to confirm the report of the $7,000,000 loan and to deny the report of a gift of $5,000,000 which report doubtless arose from the fact of setting aside $5,000,000 to constitute capital of War Trade Board Russian Bureau Incorporated. Heid, representative of Russian Bureau Incorporated of War Trade Board and who is at Vladivostok, is fully informed as to all of these matters including data as to all shipments made or to be made from United States to Vladivostok and you should confer with him on these subjects. Department suggests you also confer with Heid relative to port congestion and if further shipments to Vladivostok are in contemplation which in view of conditions you report may be deemed inadvisable, War Trade Board would doubtless stop such shipments upon receipt of recommendation from Heid. The question of disposition of CzechoSlovak material in Siberia is primarily one for the Czecho-Slovak Government as it is the owner of the properties in question. If the Czecho-Slovak Government does not desire to utilize this property itself, it will doubtless consult with the Associated Governments before disposing of the same to any Russian Government or Russian armed forces. In this event, and at that time, the matter will be considered in the light of the then situation in Russia. Please keep Department informed if you become aware of any specific intention to transfer Czecho-Slovak war material to Russian forces.' We are under impression that a considerable part of CzechoSlovak material was consigned to Heid. If this is the case, it might be desirable to instruct Heid not to permit delivery of same without satisfying himself as to intention of Czecho-Slovak authorities relative to ultimate disposition thereof." Please confer with Heid and also furnish Harris at Omsk at once with full statement of whole question and of instructions you have received. POLK 861.00/3805: Telegram The Acting Secretary of State to the Commission to Negotiate Peace WASHINGTON, February 8, 1919, 5 p.m. 7343. Possibly you will see an opportunity to discuss with Mr. Beneš, the Czecho-Slovak Minister of Foreign Affairs, the situation described in the following telegram from the American ConsulGeneral at Omsk. Deliver copy also to the Secretary of State: 66 February 3rd, 9 a.m. Attitude of Czechs at Western Siberia daily becoming more aggravating. Not fighting themselves, they are creating a physical condition which is preventing any one else from fighting. Am informed by military men that 30,000 Czechs, for example, occupy as much space as 1,000,000 men ordinarily. Hundreds of the best class rail carriages are occupied by petty officers who refuse to release them to Russians. They are spread over the best buildings without the least consideration for space or the wishes of others, who also have sick and wounded, for this is being felt at Imperial Palace by American Red Cross. The Russians and Allies owe Czechs very much for what they have accomplished in Siberia, but their present behavior rapidly undoing whatever good results may have been achieved in the past. At some place it is reported that they actually block military operations by refusing right of railway. Such action was part which rapidly brought them into disfavor with all Allied representatives here and unless policy is changed eliminating friction caused by them they will soon be strongly disliked, all of which may bring unpleasant political consequence. Harris." POLK 861.00/3842 The Secretary of War (Baker) to the Acting Secretary of State WASHINGTON, February 11, 1919. MY DEAR MR. SECRETARY: In reply to your letter of February 1st NE-M. 861.00/3762,85 in which you request the War Department to secure from General Graves a report as to the morale of the CzechoSlovaks in Siberia, I have the honor to inform you that the following message has been received from General Graves: "Number 167. February 7th. Reference your number 140. From reports received from officers and others who have come in contact with the Czechs I am convinced their morale has been grow 5 Not printed. 118353-37- -25 |