861.00/5313: Telegram
The Consul at Vladivostok (Caldwell) to the Secretary of State
[Received 10:55 p.m.]
529. As will be seen by reference to General Graves’s telegrams to the War Department conditions in Vladivostok and eastern Siberia have become much worse since the arrival of General Rozanoff, who is plainly hostile toward Allies with the exception of possibly Japan. Kalmikoff and his Cossacks are allowed to come into Vladivostok and two men in Cossack uniforms murdered a Cossack Colonel in broad daylight in the city. There is very bad feeling between the Russian soldiers and Allies resulting in killing of one American and one Czech soldier by Russian officers.
[Page 523]Allied military commanders finally demanded that General Rozanoff remove from Vladivostok fortress those troops he has brought. General Rozanoff referred matter to Omsk as [and?] he yesterday informed Allied commanders that Kolchak had telegraphed not to remove Russian troops from Vladivostok fortress but to use all possible means to prevent their removal.
Allied commanders met yesterday asking diplomatic representatives to be present and discussed situation, all being agreed that their demands must be complied with. General Inagaki was particularly positive as to this but stated that it would not cause a very serious situation. General Rozanoff’s refusal to comply with demand of the Allied military commanders was unexpected as he had indicated compliance when it was first presented. …
In any case very serious situation is created which may cause actual battle between Allied and Russian troops in Vladivostok in the near future if immediate steps are not taken in Omsk to settle the matter. It appears certain that General Rozanoff has placed matter before Kolchak in wrong light or he would not have sent such orders as he did without making any inquiries of Allied representatives. After meeting of the Allied military commanders, at which diplomatic representatives were present, the latter met and agreed to telegraph to their respective representatives in Omsk and to their respective governments that they fully agreed as to the necessity for the removal from Vladivostok of the troops recently brought in by General Rozanoff and that the removal of General Rozanoff would gradually ease the situation. Repeat to Tokio and Omsk.