File No. 861.77/261

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

[Telegram]

No credit for Colonel Emerson1 has been established here. Stevens greatly worried at delay as contingent of engineers compelled to remain on transport until money arrives.

Advices received here indicate that conditions in eastern Siberia are improving. There is no confirmation of reported massacre at Irkutsk. Russian Ambassador informs me that meeting of representatives of the Zemstvo of the Amur region held at Vladivostok December 28 assumed authority province and organized provisional government with temporary headquarters at Blagoveshchensk; issued declaration of loyalty to Allied powers and will move to Khabarovsk in the near future; hopes to keep in touch with Russian representative[s] abroad through Russian Consulate at Aigun.

Japanese Foreign Office watching conditions closely while Government fully prepared to act promptly if intervention is deemed expedient. In conversations with Russian Ambassador December 31, Motono expressed regret that there has been no exchange of views between the Allied powers in regard to the situation in Russia, also expressed a wish that he might know the attitude of American Government.

Morris
  1. Col. George Emerson, in charge of the Russian Railway Service Corps.