Nothing from Stevens since 14th ultimo when he wired from Vladivostok was going to Nagasaki 17th and await orders. I hope you will not order or permit his return as I feel that we would thereby lose great opportunity to improve transportation here. Ground prepared at great cost of time, management, and labor and only awaits sowing of seed for us to reap great harvest, regardless of Russian political outcome. Do not mean commercial return only. Moral effect of timely assistance immense. Work is humanitarian as it relieves famine. Furthermore, if no separate peace improved transportation be potential factor if not essential. Please answer. FRANCIS File No. 861.77/267a The Secretary of State to the Consul General at Yokohama (Scidmore) [Telegram] WASHINGTON, January 5, 1918. Following for Stevens [from Willard]: Your cable 4th.1 Fifty thousand dollars cabled January 3 for Emerson. Have answered all your cables. Advise immediately if matter is now fixed. Do not be discouraged. You will not be deserted. Am hoping you will still find opportunity to do great good. LANSING File No. 861.77/267 The Chairman of the Advisory Commission of Railway Experts to Russia (Stevens) to the Secretary of State For Willard: [Telegram] YOKOHAMA, January 7, 1918, 10 p. m. Your cable of 5th. Emerson received funds to-day. Will disembark all contingent next five days. Will quarter all at Nagasaki. I have received no reply to my cable 31st 2 asking you to arrange at Washington payment transport Thomas. In my opinion long delay is certain and I do not like to waste my time here if I can be of use elsewhere but submit to your judgment. STEVENS 'Not printed; see telegram from the Ambassador in Japan, Jan. 2, 4 p. m., vol. II, p. 17. 'Not printed. File No. 861.77/264 The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Russia (Francis) [Telegram] WASHINGTON, January 9, 1918, 1 p. m. 1972. Your 2184, January 3, 7 p. m., transmitted to Stevens who is now with Emerson's party at Nagasaki. He will be instructed to return to Vladivostok as soon as situation makes it practicable for him to do so. LANSING File No. 861.77/268 The Consul at Vladivostok (Caldwell) to the Secretary of State [Telegram] VLADIVOSTOK, January 9, 1918, 10 p. m. [Received January 9, 9.35 p. m.] Your telegram December 28, 5 p. m., was not received. I did not telegraph reasons for railway corps' going Japan because Stevens informed me he was doing it. Corps went to Japan because it is impossible accomplish anything on railway. There are no accommodations on shore here for corps and ice made detention transport precarious. Useless for corps to come until some authority can be maintained either by Russia or Allies. At present soldiers dictate train movements holding expresses behind troop trains for days, detaching engines from expresses, and crowding on guard trains without paying. Moreover, although railway employees mostly well inclined, continued working of railway is uncertain because funds are not forthcoming from Petrograd. Ustrugov, Vice Minister of Communications, who was working with Stevens, is going Petrograd in effort secure funds. Unless money received from Petrograd, Navy Yard and other government employees here can not be paid after December which may cause rioting. So far as known all Americans Siberia safe. Quiet prevails here. Bolsheviks sealed banks for few hours this morning. Seriousness of step was made clear to them by bankers. CALDWELL File No. 861.00/954 The Consul at Vladivostok (Caldwell) to the Secretary of State [Telegram-Extract 1] VLADIVOSTOK, January 13, 1918, 8 p. m. [Received January 15.] Stevens's party can land with entire safety at any time. Departure for Japan was not due to hostility but as explained my telegram January 9, 10 p. m., because work impossible then. Also Thomas had provisions for few days only and impossible replenish here, city being short account of no transportation. Undesirable interpreters could not well be sent back if corps landed because Soldiers-Workmen's Council were clamoring for their release from ship even when entire corps were refused shore leave claiming we were abusing Russian citizens. Undesirable interpreters must be discharged in Japan before corps returns. Three months required complete [locomotive] shops and work stopped awaiting arrival Jaspe dredgers, who should come immediately. Remainder of corps may be able begin work within a few weeks if situation at trouble centers along line continues to improve and if money for wages railway and port employees found by Russia or Allies. No freight left here past week because of block near Omsk. CALDWELL File No. 861.77/281a The Acting Secretary of State to the Consul General at Yokohama (Scidmore) For Stevens: [Telegram] WASHINGTON, January 19, 1918, 7 p. m. Mr. Willard tells me he has notified you of his resignation from Advisory Commission. I think you and Colonel Emerson should proceed alone at once to Vladivostok to investigate situation, ascertain whether party can be landed and quartered with prospect of going ahead with work. Party can not be held indefinitely idle as services urgently needed both here and in France. On the other hand project should not be abandoned until you and Colonel Emerson are convinced of expediency to do so. Department's advices further confirm your own impressions that the people are and will be in control for some time. Your dealings 1 Printed in full in vol. II, p. 25. will have to be with them and not with the machinery of a wellestablished government. Department will regard your conclusions as based on your judgment that party will be able to cope successfully with these conditions. Department concurs in Ambassador's views as to value of work both for present and future and will support you. If whole party can not be profitably employed please consider whether a part of them should remain. Within last few weeks Red Cross has brought two trains through from Archangel to Jassy. Keep me advised your movements. POLK File No. 861.77/278 The Acting Secretary of State to the Consul General at Yokohama (Scidmore) [Telegram] WASHINGTON, January 24, 1918, 7 p. m. For Stevens, to be forwarded if he has left: Referring last page your letter December 28 to Mr. Willard,1 Department concurs wholly your view as to importance of going ahead if practicable. Believe you and Emerson may be able to handle Soldiers' and Workmen's authorities with whom you will have to deal. In this connection and for your information Department has reports from individuals returning from Russia that soldiers now take exception to officers' uniform and insignia if worn by men who have seen no fighting. You may wish to investigate and consider this, as concerns Emerson and his men. POLK Establishment of Stevens and a Portion of the Railway Service Corps at Harbin for Service on the Chinese Eastern Railway-Recommendation of Ambassador Francis that Railway Units Be Sent to European Russia for Cooperation with Soviet Authorities-Emerson's Departure for Vologda-Transfer of the Remainder of the Railway Service Corps to Vladivostok Following Seizure by the Czecho-Slovaks File No. 861.77/284 The Chairman of the Advisory Commission of Railway Experts to Russia (Stevens) to the Secretary of State Endeavoring formulate with the head of Chinese Eastern Railway a plan to place contingent to give entering wedge. Former special commissioner Provisional Government helpless. Useless to attempt 'Not printed. funds for all expenses our men; also for same including their arms 5,000 reliable soldiers to guard line to Irkutsk. Your cable of 24th. Information given you nonsense, uniform is very necessary and advisable. Best that could be done if there is a chance would be for America to take over the operation Siberian Railway during the war. The move would be welcomed [by] 80 per cent Russian people. Cable address the United States Consul at Harbin. STEVENS File No. 861.77/286 The Consul at Harbin (Moser) to the Secretary of State [Telegram] HARBIN, February 3, 1918, 3 p. m. Referring to your cipher telegram of January 24, 7 p. m., to Stevens, impossible to work with Soldiers' and Workmen's authorities, Siberia. There are none in Harbin. Bolsheviks control all Siberian towns east from Irkutsk but railway employees and vast majority population, helpless in their grasp, hate them. We can work with these. I have opposed raising Allied forces Harbin for invasion against Bolsheviks and also Allied money and arms for Russian force under Russian control because of Russian disorganization and inefficiency, but the certainty now clear that Siberia and railways will fall completely into hands of the German war prisoners and the Bolsheviks unless immediate measures taken renders action imperative. It is reported that armed German prisoners now acting as guards in some Siberian towns. Firmly believe unless America takes over direction railways, Japan will be obliged to. If we can secure request by railways for the Government of the United States take over operation of the railways till end of war only from Vladivostok to Irkutsk retaining present workmen and officials as figureheads, will you accept and support with money and arms Russian force ten thousand or more under Russian leadership but American supervision to guard Siberian railways? This will involve Russian relief [rescue?] of Amur River railway also from the Bolsheviks' and prisoners' control and may extend to western Siberia. Chinese troops would be retained guarding Manchurian railway as their share in Allies' cooperation. Russians have also excellent nucleus in Cossack force now operating between Manchouli and Irkutsk, but lack money and arms. Stevens and I heartily agree this most practical plan involving minimum questions and producing most valuable results. Com |