File No. 861.00/902a
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Russia ( Francis)
1931. Circulate following questionnaire to consular representatives in special red code or by hand for earliest report to Embassy by same channels. Vladivostok has been instructed to report also direct to Department. Cable Department soonest possible digest of reports received, sending full reports later by courier service.
Department directs that you apply to your district following questions and report to me soonest possible in special red code or by hand:
- (a)
- What is structure of local government, its authority, executive power, capacity to maintain order?
- (b)
- Has it proclaimed or manifested inclination for separate or autonomous organization?
- (c)
- Describe attitude of population of cities as compared with country population.
- (d)
- What is influence of Bolsheviki?
- (e)
- What are leading factors, both political and individual, in local situation?
- (f)
- What are conditions of railway transportation and supply including food?
- (g)
- Has full quota of representatives to Constituent Assembly been elected and sent to Petrograd? What are political affiliations of such representatives?
To the Consuls at Moscow, Odessa, Tiflis, the following queries should be added:
- (h)
- Number of troops your district and general condition both political and material.
- (i)
- How does population stand in relation to army units in your district?
- (j)
- How are troops in your district as a whole disposed toward movements of Ukraine, Kaledin and Caucasus to continue war? Are they supporting them or opposing them?
- (k)
- What is program and platform of army units?
Department suggests that effort be made with utmost discretion to obtain views of representative Russians.