861.00/5352: Telegram
The Chargé in China (Tenney) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 9, 10 a.m.]
[From Harris:]
415. October 8, 8 p.m. Referring to my telegram October 7,8 p.m.73 Soukine handed me the following tonight for transmission to the Department:
“The Russian Government has just learned from its Ambassador in Washington of an incident which took place in Habarovsk on the 5th of September. The revolting facts that are reported to the Government for the first time in this telegram have produced an unanimous [Page 527] indignation of the Council of Ministers who ordered an immediate investigation to be carried out and in case the facts were to be confirmed wishes to express its profound regret and condemnation of the action that apparently must be attributed to irresponsible and local military officers.
As to the general state of affairs in the Far East which causes greatest anxiety to the Russian Government, it is urgently studying the situation and while awaiting the arrival of Calktelbergh [Telberg?], Minister of Justice, sent for that purpose to Vladivostok, will proceed to (take) such measures as conditions will allow.”
Soukine also informed me that Semenoff was again perpetrating unjustifiable acts of violence on Chinese territory along the line of the railway leading to Harbin. Full facts were not in possession of Omsk Government but undoubtedly official circles here are greatly concerned. I shall keep the Department informed as far as lies in my power. Harris.
- Not printed.↩