861.77/732: Telegram
The Ambassador in Japan (Morris), temporarily at Vladivostok, to the Acting Secretary of State
[Received March 9, 5:19 p.m.]
The Technical Board with a full attendance met at 11 o’clock this morning for the purpose of formal organization. Colonel Jack, the British representative, acted as temporary chairman and on motion of the Japanese representative, Stevens was unanimously elected president under the railway agreement.
At 3 o’clock this afternoon the Inter-Allied Committee met, all seven representatives being present. The British High Commissioner acted as temporary chairman; and on motion of Matsudaira,60 Mr. Ostrougoff60a was unanimously elected chairman. Mr. Stevens reported the organization of the Technical Board including his election as president which was duly approved. Ostrougoff was directed to prepare a draft of the statement to the Russian people which will be submitted to the Inter-Allied Committee for approval on Friday and be issued forthwith. The Technical Board is planning move to Harbin and for the present to occupy offices in the Administration Building of the Chinese Eastern Railway. The members of the Military Committee have been named with the exception of the Chinese representative. Subject to the approval of our Government, General Graves has named Colonel Gallagher as the American representative. Horvath has stated to me that he will accept notice on behalf of the Chinese Eastern of the Inter-Allied supervision and Stevens’ operation and will immediately issue instructions to all his subordinates asking their support and cooperation. Ostrougoff has been authorized by the Council of Ministers to express the cordial approval of the Omsk Government. This completes the formal organization and also the object of my visit.
May I take this occasion to express my very great appreciation of the prompt and more than generous support which I have consistently received from the Department during these tedious negotiations and which I hope future developments will justify.
In the absence of a reply to the suggestion in my February 24, 10 a.m.61 I have abandoned the trip to Peking, and expect to sail for Nagasaki on March 7 arriving Tokyo March 11. I have suggested to Smith that hereafter he communicate directly with you through Consulate General.