Semenov not seriously wounded. Czech National Council in Ekaterinburg has been disarmed [dissolved?]. Situation Ufa front somewhat improved. Slight Bolshevik unrest reported in Krasnoyarsk, otherwise quiet Siberia. HARRIS File No. 861.00/3538 The Consul General at Irkutsk (Harris) to the Secretary of State1 [Telegram] ОмSк, December 26, 1918. [Received December 27, 7 p. m.] 259. It is officially announced that Perm has been captured by Siberian troops. HARRIS File No. 861.00/3552 The Consul at Irkutsk (Thomson) to the Secretary of State1 [Telegram] IRKUTSK, December 28, 1918. [Received December 30, 12.43 p. m.] Referring to my 27th.2 Semenov's General Skipetrov arrived Verkhneudinsk with armored train and arrested the garrison commander there and all officials loyal to Kolchak government. Due to a Bolshevik uprising near Kansk, which is 500 miles west of Irkutsk, the Kolchak troops [at] Irkutsk are being sent westward and will not be able to oppose Semenov at Verkhneudinsk. The Bolshevik uprising will probably be liquidated in a few days but in meantime all communication is interrupted between Irkutsk and Omsk and Consul General Harris will not be able to telegraph Washington until insurrection is put down. THOMSON File No. 861.00/3539 The Ambassador in Japan (Morris) to the Secretary of State [Telegram] TOKYO, December 28, 1918, 1 a. m. Minister for Foreign Affairs to-day handed to me the following confidential memorandum which he advised me is being telegraphed to Viscount Ishii for formal communication to you: The Japanese Government in their declaration of August 2, 1918, made it clear that the primary object which they had in view in undertaking a military expedition to Siberia was to relieve the critical situation of the Czecho-Slovak troops in that region due to the pressure of German and Austro-Hungarian armed prisoners, and of certain Bolshevik forces under Teutonic influence and command. Soon after the advance of a Japanese detachment to Trans-Baikalia occupied with the operations conducted by the Allied forces in the Ussuri and Amur districts, the Czecho-Slovaks who had been isolated in the interior of Siberia succeeded in reestablishing communication with their comrades and Allies at Vladivostok and elsewhere. The grave danger that had once threatened their existence has thus been averted and the primary object of the military activities undertaken by Japan in Siberia in cooperation with the powers associated against Germany has now been successfully achieved. At the same time the Japanese Government fully realize that the immediate and complete withdrawal from Siberia of Japanese or Allied troops at the present moment would be calculated to produce serious consequences, more especially as regards the maintenance of order and security in the localities in which those troops are now operating. Nor do they feel that the number of Japanese troops so far maintained in north Manchuria and eastern Siberia is wholly unwarranted by any necessity as was remarked by Mr. Lansing in his conversation with Viscount Ishii on November 16. They are, however, quite ready to reexamine the Siberian situation in the light of changed circumstances, and, having regard to the expressed views of the American Government, they have decided to effect as much reduction in the number of Japanese troops in Siberia as the absolute requirement for the preservation of public order in the localities will permit. Already 13,800 men of those troops had been withdrawn up to end of November, and it is now intended to proceed to a further withdrawal of 34,000 men in due course. MORRIS File No. 861.00/3545 The Ambassador in Japan (Morris) to the Secretary of State [Telegram] TOKYO, December 29, 1918, 4 p. m. The formal announcement of the intended withdrawal of 34,000 troops from Siberia and Manchuria as reported in my December 28, 1 a. m., and the concessions made by the Japanese Government in regard to the proposed operation of the Siberian railways as reported in my December 27, 10 p. m.,1 mark the conclusion of a month's period of discussing and controversy in Government circles here. As I view it, the results are far more satisfactory than I had 'Vol. I, p. 301. dared to hope and indicate that Hara has not only succeeded in modifying Japan's Siberian policy so that it seems to more nearly accord with the expressed views of our Government but has also won an initial victory over the reactionary forces of the General Staff. The consolidation of military authority has already been completed. The Ministry still having trouble with the General Staff on the question of Semenov. Your December 11, 6 p. m.,1 and December 16, 6 p. m.,2 have been of the greatest value. Opportunities, largely unsought, have been offered and during the past two weeks I have frankly and informally discussed the entire situation with Hara, Goto, Uchida and Shidehara and also with several men not in office but who are influential in Government circles. I will summarize the impressions gathered from these discussions in a subsequent telegram. Makino might speak unreservedly if given an opportunity during his stay in Washington. Recent advices from Harbin indicate that Stevens is not well and very impatient at the slow progress of the negotiations. The following telegram to me exhibits his state of mind which is not surprising when one considers his experiences during the past year. I have returned to Harbin much disappointed in not meeting you. My position personally unchanged as to conditions; in no way could I submit even to semblance of Japanese control. Japanese newspaper Harbin publishing most bitter attacks upon American motives in general. Trust he will not permit his quite justifiable irritation to influence his judgment on the new proposals of Japanese Government. MORRIS File No. 861.00/3560 The Consul General at Irkutsk (Harris) to the Secretary of State 3 [Telegram] ОмSK, December 30, 1918. [Received January 2, 1919, 12.40 a. m.] 268. Current report to date. It is reported that Semenov has declared mobilization of Buriats and peaceful natives in Trans-Baikal. Vice Consul Williams at Chelyabinsk under date 26th reports in substance that situation on Ufa front remains serious. During past ten days Ufa has been very generally evacuated, but troops still hold all fronts. English armored trains and French troops have just gone from Ufa to extreme fronts, neither being willing to go without the other. Bolsheviks' Red Army broke through the line at Birsk, where they are most dangerous, but still 25 miles away from Ufa. No Red Guards are yet in Ufa. The sentiment among laborers in that section is strongly pro-Bolshevik. The soldiers on the fronts are continually slipping, perhaps to the enemy, in small groups including a few of the Siberian troops' new reinforcements. This constitutes most serious danger. The victory of the Siberian army at Perm has been complete. From 25th to 28th December, 31,000 prisoners, 120 guns, several thousand machine guns, 30 automobiles, nine armored trains, and the entire Bolshevik supply trains. The entire loss of Red Army is estimated at 60,000. The Russian commander was Lieutenant General Pepelyaev, 28 years old, and an ordinary soldier at beginning of the war in 1914. File No. 861.00/3563 [HARRIS] The Consul at Vladivostok (Caldwell) to the Secretary of State [Telegram] VLADIVOSTOK, January 1, 1919, 1 p. m. [Received January 2, 1.04 a m.] 387. Municipal elections were held here, 29th, previous elections having been nullified by court under Horvat influence, owing to alleged irregularities. Final count: of 37,400 qualified electors, 4,217 valid ballots cast. Non-socialist bloc returned 55 of 101 municipal councilmen; socialist bloc 31, remainder scattering. These results were due to restriction of franchise since last election and as most [boycott] of elections by a majority workmen. Department is referred for instructive comparison with former elections to my July 31, 2 p. m.,1 and August 3, 11 a. m.2 'Ante, p. 320. 'Ante, p. 327. CALDWELL CHAPTER II THE NORTHERN REGION Opposition in Archangel to the Soviet Régime German Threat through Finland to the Murman Railway-Shipment of Arms and Stores to the Interior of Russia-British Requests for the Dispatch of American Forces to Murmansk-Arrival of a French Warship-Landing of Armed Forces-Allied Cooperation with the Murmansk Soviet-Arrival of an American Cruiser-German and Soviet Demands for Withdrawal of Allied and American Forces-Agreement of July 6, 1918, with the Murmansk Soviet-Argument of the Consul at Archangel against Intervention File No. 861.00/953 The Ambassador in Russia (Francis) to the Secretary of State [Telegram] PETROGRAD, January 13, 1918, 8 p. m. [Received January 15, 10.20 a. m.] 2228. Cole, Consul at Archangel, in reports dated January 2, 9th, latter being reply to your 1931, December 24,1 states that commander in chief of Archangel and White Sea region same person appointed by Kerensky, and still directs all military, naval, and civilian affairs. When Bolshevik revolution occurred, socialist anti-Bolshevik leaders, with consent and cooperation of commander in chief, formed revolutionary committee in anticipation of possibility local Bolsheviks' assuming authority. This committee proclaimed itself the supreme power in the province and has been continuously sustained by commander in chief and civil authorities; no independence proclaimed, but committee function [proclamation?] announced orders of People's Commissaries obeyed. Munition shipments practically ceased. Cole report January 4 stated movement started for federation of eight northeastern provinces by representatives of Zemstvos, Councils of Workmen-Soldiers-Peasants' Deputies, professional unions, City Dumas of Archangel, Vologda, Olonets, Novgorod, Yaroslav, Vyatka, and Perm Provinces, but his report of 9th states separation movement less strong and sentiment favoring semi-autonomous policy, as fear was growing that starvation would ensue if declared complete independence, starvation being only influence checking anti-Bolshevik sentiment. Cole reports Constituent Assembly elections show following percentages for Archangel Province: Social Revolutionists 62, Cadets 10, 1 Vol. 1, p. 324. |