861.00/6704: Telegram

The Ambassador in Japan ( Morris ) to the Secretary of State

158. My 157, April 5, 10 p.m. War Office this morning made the following announcement:

“Negotiations between the commander of the Japanese Expeditionary Forces and the provisional government of Vladivostok began on April 3rd and concluded in the evening of the next day.

A provisional government accepted nearly all of our demands and was to sign an agreement at 5 p.m. of the 5th.

At 10:15 p.m. of the 4th, however, our infantry patrol was suddenly attacked by the Russians and the latter took the offensive against us in many points of the town.

The commander of the Japanese forces was compelled to answer the attack and decided to disarm all the Russian troops in Vladivostok and the neighborhood and early on the morning of the 5th he commenced to take the definite steps.”

War Office also announces that a report has been received stating that hostilities commenced between the Japanese and Russians yesterday morning at Nikolsk and Habarovsk but that railway and telegraph communication between those places and Vladivostok was however interrupted.

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Morris