861.00/5360: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Consul General at Irkutsk (Harris), temporarily at Omsk
Vladivostok has been instructed to repeat to you a message from Smith75 which will acquaint you with the gravity of the situation in Eastern Siberia. Note in connection with the second part of the Department’s October 3, 4 p.m., the part reported to be played therein by Rozanoff.
The Department has received other reports in the tenor of that from Smith all tending to indicate that an attempt may be made to establish independent Russian authority under Semenoff or another Cossack leader East of Lake Baikal. The Department is not disposed to accept these reports as final but believes that the authorities at Omsk should be acquainted with the grave possibilities contained in the situation.
You may act within your discretion in discussing the matter informally with the Omsk authorities but nothing approaching formal representations is desired.
Mr. Morris is acquainted with the situation and is discussing with the Japanese authorities the support which irresponsible subordinate [Page 530] Japanese military leaders are reported to be giving to those unfriendly to the Omsk Government.