File No. 861.00/861
The Consul at Vladivostok ( Caldwell ) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 23, 1.35 p.m.]
Still quiet here. Bolsheviks have not yet forced their control upon Government institutions but may do so soon. This will cause strike employees, paralyzing port. Since 16th no telegraphic communication west of Chita. The newspapers report all stations west of Irkutsk in hands of Bolsheviks, Irkutsk telegraph and postal clerks having struck in protest.
Returns Priamur district not quite complete but indicate five peasant, one Cossack and one Bolshevik delegates Constituent [Page 11] Assembly. Irkutsk, Bolsheviks have 11,000 out of total 30,000 votes, but in Krasnoyarsk they have 12,000 out of total 17,000.
Many prisoners of war reported escaping particularly from Krasnoyarsk. In case of separate treaty of peace believe their acts would necessitate Allied control Vladivostok and Priamur district to protect shipping China and Japan routes. Meantime we should have properly organized military passport controls at five points, Asia[tic Russia?], Vladivostok particularly, as British look for their chief control of much [omission?] and local counter-spy organization about to collapse for lack of funds. Latter requests foreign financial assistance, would require about five hundred American dollars monthly. Maintenance this organization is very important to Allied interests as without it or large force of our own agencies we cannot hope to extend proper passport control.