File No. 861.00/1690

The Ambassador in Russia (Francis) to the Secretary of State

[Telegram]

109. Continuing my 107, 17th. Following just received from Webster, Omsk, through Robins:

Leaving 18th for Moscow. Investigations, Krasnoyarsk, Omsk, give entirely satisfactory results confirming impressions communicated previous telegrams. No armed prisoners Krasnoyarsk, discipline strict. Omsk chief center arming prisoners, total, including those sent against Semenov, 1, 100. Omsk provincial arming prisoners confirmed. Guarantees obtained from All-Siberian Soviet. All armed prisoners violently socialistic. Present conditions without menace except against Central Empires or Japanese invasion.

Mail just received from Consul General enclosing telegrams from Macgowan, Jenkins, Thomson, Nielsen. Do not accord with Webster. Macgowan reported, 12th, had urged Webster visit Omsk, but said Webster party likewise disposed in this as in other matters to accept Bolshevik assurance that it was nothing. Thomson, Omsk,2 April 5, reported thousand prisoners near there fully equipped under German officers and suggested that arming prisoners might be with German approval to oppose Japanese invasion. Jenkins, Chita, 13th, reports decree of local Soviet government declaring prisoners free as other inhabitants. You see reports disagree. Robins already cabled Davison, Thompson, that Webster investigation “admirably done.”

[Page 126]

Petrograd press says Chinese press report two detachments of English and American troops arrived Harbin. Is it true? Caldwell wires Chinese cruiser arrived at Vladivostok.

American Consul, Petrograd, reports Viborg surrounded and rumored that few Russian vessels sunk in Finnish ports to avoid German capture. See Robins’s cable Thompson through Davison. Passengers [reference my] 108, Davison.1

Francis
  1. Alfred R. Thomson, Consul at Irkutsk, detailed to Omsk.
  2. Not printed.