42. Telegram From the Consulate in Irkutsk to the Department of State1
168. Following from Irkutsk. “March 7, 11 a.m. Subject opinion Consular Officers Siberia on continuance Compub struggle. Consul Caldwell2 at Vladivistok says “Belive Compub has been successful and could do good by continuing”. Consul Emory3 at Omsk says “It was evidently a mistake to demobilize the Russian division of Compub at this time. This mistake was all the more to be regretted because Compub was helping more than any other one American organization to explain away other mistakes in our Siberian policy. Compub at Omsk was doing splendid work and enjoyed great popularity with Russian public and press which was increasing daily.”
Vice Consul Ray4 at Novo Nicolaevsk says “I have many requests for these bulletins and believe they have done much to enlighten the [Page 88] Russian public relative to our ways of doing business, education and farming and American life in general. In my opinion it should be continued”.
Vice Consul Williams5 at Cheliabinsk says “Concerning proposed liquidation in American Press Bureau I call attention to importance of its store house just now. The store is in charge of a Russian who has opened a branch in the city where American publications are given out and he has often fifty calls daily for them. Recently he circulated this district with some publications and a letter requesting recipient to advise if he wished further publication of bureau and inquiring in what he was especially interested. Henceforth letters were sent to representative people from lists secured from Zemstvos cooperatives and other reliable sources and replies now being received evince much interest. A Russian from the front called on me yesterday stating he had seen press bureau pamphlet concerning Imperial Government of Germany in Russia, that this pamphlet was in great demand and he had called to see how many copies he could get for front where publications explaining present situation in Russia are so needed. In the present lack of understanding of our attitude toward Russia it seems unfortunate to draw out [withdraw?] an institution of reliable information in a territory where rumor and inaccurate statement circulate often as the only source of information as (*)6 for people as for the course of the world movements of this present time. Most likely withdrawal of such a work will cause much comment because of the recent publicity given it through letters mentioned. The press has already stated that this action is with the mobilization plans of the allies which makes appear that our interest in Russia in this respect was only account of loans and it would seem that America cannot afford to demobilize such institutions in Russia at this stage”.
Vice Consul Thomas7 Krasnoyvsk says “consider it very unfortunate that Compub not to consider its useful work. Press and all classes people have shown greatest interest in publications. This work was especially helpful to Proletariat in discouraging struggle work out good scheme of cooperation. This class does not understand our institutions but nevertheless feels that our democracy must be its model and looks to us to be their teachers.”
Vice Consul Hadley,8 resigned says “The demobilization of the Compub is most unfortunate particularly at this time and if the demobi [Page 89] lization means the discontinuance or serious curtailment of the work it was doing in Russia it will mean that still another wonderful opportunity to do work helpful alike to Russia and to America has [been] allowed to pass. The Compub was doing splendid work in interpreting America to the Russians and this work was sure to prove very helpful not only to Russia but to the farmer the laborers and the business men of America but the mistake that has been made in demobilizing the Compub can still be largely remedied if the help it was doing shall be carried on by other American agencies in Russia. Very much can be done in the way of revival of the Russian newspapers in both news and editorial columns from the spread of interesting helpful news about America. This work can be done to a large extent by Consular Officers on their own initiative. What is needed is patience tact work with the owners and editors of daily papers. Had no serious trouble as Vice Consul in getting practically all Compub material into the Orenburg and Novo Nicolaevsk dailies and the cooperative magazines. I also succeeded in getting the leading daily of Novo Nicolaevsk to publish a special American number. This thirteen long articles in it about America”.
Vice Consul Palmer9 Ekaterinburg says “at first I thought little of the Compub but always tried to help along as far as possible. But after looking into the question more closely and having seen their work while Brown was here I have come to think much in their work and certainly believe it should be continued if at all possible. I gave Compub representative here a letter in which I expressed regret that his work had been so unexpectedly cut off, that I believe the Compub was the basis of a great trade getting movement and that I had hoped that finally it might be fused into and become part some sort of a practical organization or perhaps better call it information office and that I felt in this way they would do good for America. At least they were getting well into connection not only this people here and especially with the papers but were reaching a class of people in the district which is not a reader of newspapers and yet is to my mind a class of potential bulk not to be neglected. I believe however, that telegraph service should be improved as we generally get news too late peddle out here. The Compub should certainly not only be continued but pushed to the limit”.
Consul Thompson10 Irkutsk says “I have been identified with this work since August 1917 when begun by Consul General Summers11 this [Page 90] (under?) appriation [appropriation?] and having worked this (under?) Department of State/Compub representative in Irkutsk and can testify to increasing local demand for weekly bulletin on the part of military organizations, peasants associations and great middle classes who are grasping blindly for same democratic ideals but who are unable to find expression of same through primitive Russian press. Feel this work should be continued Department of States appropriation for at least of (a?) year longer as it is very important for the Department of State to have the machinery for explaining to Russians American aims particularly in connection with railway control to offset the propaganda of certain disgruntled Russian railway officials who will be deprived of opportunity of receiving bribes.
My own views on subject have been fully set forth in my number 126 February 20, 6 p.m.12 Have been informed that Japan is establishing a Compub in Siberia. In short time I shall send Department an estimate of funds needed to continue this work.” Harris.13
- Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Decimal File 1910–1929, Box 735, 103.93/1557. No classification marking. Sent via Beijing. Received March 11 at 5:08 a.m.↩
- John K. Caldwell.↩
- Reference is to John Augustus Embry.↩
- Apparent reference to Lacey Gray.↩
- George W. Williams.↩
- As in the original. Presumably it signifies an omission or garbled text in the transmission from Irkutsk.↩
- Edward B. Thomas.↩
- Howard D. Hadley.↩
- Henry Palmer.↩
- Alfred Ray Thompson.↩
- Maddin Summers.↩
- Not found.↩
- Ernest Lloyd Harris, Consul General in Irkutsk.↩
- Paul Samuel Reinsch, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to China.↩