861.00/5329
Memorandum by the Assistant Secretary of State (Phillips)
I sent for the Russian Ambassador today and told him that in view of the publicity which, unfortunately, had been given in Vladivostock to the exchange of notes between General Gray [Graves?] and Soukine, the actions of Kalmikoff against American soldiers had become a very serious matter; that the normal course for us would be to make a demand upon the Omsk authorities for apology and repudiation [Page 525] of Kalmikoff’s acts, but that I felt confident that such a communication was unnecessary and that Kolchak would, on his own initiative take the necessary steps. I referred to the critical element in this country which was adverse to the use of American soldiers in Siberia and that there could be no distinction in the minds of the people between the action of the Russians in Omsk and the Russians in Vladivostock, though, of course, we here understood that Kalmikoff was acting irresponsibly, but that the situation would become most serious if Kolchak did not at once disassociate himself in this case from Kalmikoff. I thought that the recognition of Kolchak was proceeding in the right direction, but of course all question of recognition of Kolchak was out of the question unless Kolchak made the necessary amends. I pointed out the indignation of the American Army, if, after such insults, we should give recognition to Kolchak without the necessary amends. The Ambassador promised to send a long despatch outlining the situation and would dwell upon the necessity of a disavowal by Kolchak, and asked us, for the sake of speed to send it over through our own channels, which would save about ten days’ time. This I promised to do.