File No. 861.00/1448
The British Ambassador (Reading) to the Secretary of State
No. 371
Washington, April 8,
1918.
My Dear Mr. Secretary: I beg to enclose,
herewith, paraphrases of the four telegrams relative to the
conditions in Siberia and at Vladivostok, which I mentioned to you
during our conversation this morning.
Believe me [etc.]
[Enclosure 1—Telegram—Paraphrase]
The British Embassy in
Japan to the British Embassy at
Washington
The British military attaché has received the following report
from a British officer recently arrived from Moscow:
- 1.
- Large quantity of rolling stock on Siberian Railway
much of which is standing in stations unused. Sufficient
locomotives throughout.
- 2.
- Large stocks of grain exist in western Siberian
littoral having been sold since 1911. Farmers and some
Austrian prisoners who have apparently settled there
offering supplies at stations.
- 3.
- Prisoners seen along route under no restraint. None
armed in western Siberia.
- 4.
- His Majesty’s Consul at Irkutsk stated that German
major general, two colonels, and thirty-four other ranks
recently arrived to organize large concentration of
armed prisoners there. Town and camp were now commanded
by 4.6 guns. Preparations made for destruction of
bridges and arches in case of Allied intervention.
Prisoners trying to return to Europe, had been stopped
at Omsk and sent back to Irkutsk.
[Enclosure 2—Telegram—Paraphrase]
The British Foreign
Office to the British Ambassador at
Washington (Reading)
The British Government earnestly hope that the American naval
commander at Vladivostok may at once receive instructions to
cooperate with the British and Japanese warships in landing a
party, if he is not already cooperating. It is unnecessary for
me to point out the essential importance of our acting together
in this question.
[Page 109]
[Enclosure 3—Telegram—Paraphrase]
The British Foreign
Office to the British Minister in China
(Jordan)
We are now trying to lead the Bolshevist government at Moscow to
resume warfare against the German Army and also to accept the
assistance and cooperation of the Allies, including the
Japanese, and we have some hopes of success.
It is clear that our policy must be seriously prejudiced with the
Bolshevist authorities, even fatally so, in the event of
Semenov, encouraged
by the Allies, making an advance at this moment. Nor do we think
it likely from the present and prospective composition of the
forces under Semenov that
they will be able to achieve very much from a military point of
view.
On the other hand, Semenov
and his force will constitute a very useful adjunct to any
occupying forces, both from a political and military standpoint,
if and when intervention in Siberia, either by the Allies or by
the Japanese alone, materializes. It will be better in the
meantime for Semenov to
wait, and to devote himself to the organization of his force
without embarking on military operations pending the further
development of the situation as to intervention by the Allies in
Siberia.
[Enclosure 4—Telegram—Paraphrase]
The British Foreign
Office to the British Special Representative in
Russia (Lockhart)
Report received from the Suffolk to the
effect that an armed band of robbers shot three Japanese office
employees at Vladivostok on April 4. Local police were impotent
and such attacks had become frequent. As a result of the
shooting an armed force of two companies was landed by the
Japanese Admiral on April 5 in the morning to protect Japanese
life and property, and at the same time the Japanese Admiral
notified the local authorities of the reason for his taking this
action. A party of fifty men was also landed from the Suffolk and we believe that similar
action is being taken by the American warship, though we are not
yet certain as to this. A further landing party of 250 men has
been asked for by the Japanese Admiral.
Please notify Trotsky of
this incident and give him an assurance that this landing by the
Allies has been carried out solely with the object of affording
security for the life and property of foreign residents in
Vladivostok. Please point out that it is most regrettable that
Vladivostok should be the scene of disorder and of attacks on
citizens of the Allied countries just at the moment when the
Allied Governments are desirous to do everything they can to
afford support and assistance to Trotsky.
