861.77/1160: Telegram
The President of the Technical Board (Stevens) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 25, 5 a.m.]
Your cable October 21, 4 p.m. Withdrawal of inspectors depends entirely on safety, 50,000 Czechs not being able to participate in the protection of railway. Murders, train wrecks almost continually. One Czech soldier equal to dozen Russian who are largely Bolshevik themselves. However withdrawal will depend largely upon men themselves as I do not care to assume all responsibility. They would feel differently if Kolchak government will at least try to enforce agreement instead of handicapping in every way. Soukine tells us Government cannot carry out agreement until foreign recognition military and financial assistance will be extended. I will consult [Page 538] with General Graves who knows the situation and controls Russian troops [sic] under the circumstances.