861.00/5360: Telegram
The American member of the Inter-Allied Railway Committee (Smith) to the Secretary of State, transmitted by the Consul at Vladivostok (Macgowan)
[Received October 9, 7:28 p.m.]
540. Following from Smith:
“As the situation was becoming so serious General Graves, two days ago, issued an order to concentrate all American troops on the Amur line at Spaskoe. In consequence of this, at the request of General Graves, I called together my colleagues on the Committee with the exception of the Russian and Japanese members to outline to them why such action was taken. During the past two weeks both General Graves and myself have been receiving from many Russian sources, including Russian officers and members of various political parties and from members of the staff of General Rozanoff, numerous reports that there is a plot on foot to make the position of the Allies untenable in Siberia.
These reports are as follows: Semenoff, Kalmikoff and Rozanoff, all appointees of the Omsk Government, have been mobilizing some of the worst Russian elements and also enemy prisoners. This is not to go to the front but for attacking the Allies, the Americans and Czechs principally. This movement is being secretly supported by the Japanese military. They have tried to buy arms from Allied firms. The Japanese have furnished these heretofore. Their aim is to take advantage of the general discontent to use as a slogan, [Page 528] ‘Away with the Allies’, and to attack Americans and Czechs. Such attacks may not be very serious in themselves but the subsidized press will use them as evidence of the hatred of the Russians generally against us. They will not attack the Japanese. The idea is to make the Allies withdraw in disgust. Then the aid of the Japanese will be solicited and in payment for this the Japanese will be given commercial control of the Far East. The ultimate plan is to restore the old régime and it is claimed that the Russian-German, the Japanese monarchists have combined to do this. There are Russians of German origin now working at Omsk to this end. The names of Barons Tisguiche Gausen [Tisenhausen?], Menda [Medem?], Zacco [?] and Vudberg [Budberg] have been given as working there.
The above was given to my colleagues and they confirm it to a great state [extent?]. Similar telegram will be sent to all the governments. They all stated that the actions of the Japanese military were very evident and are all agreed that the governments should take quick action.
In addition to the above Stevens has sent the following today to the Committee:
‘(Paraphrase) A Russian echelon was sent from Chita to Habarovsk by Semenoff leaving detachments of soldiers at stations between Harbin and Manchuria on the 7th. It was intended to leave the rest at Harbin but as Horvat threatened to disarm them they were taken to Habarovsk. Two other echelons are expected. This placing of Semenoff’s men may lead to serious difficulties as, under the Allied agreement, the Chinese are to guard this line. If the Allied commanders did not order this, I urge that this be taken up with them at once with a view to having Semenoff’s men removed immediately. (End of paraphrase).’
This has just arrived and the Committee has had no time to take action. The Allied military certainly did not order them there.
It is said that Rozanoff and General Oi are to meet in Habarovsk to arrange everything. Smith”.
Repeated to Tokyo.