File No. 861.00/963
The Consul at Harbin (Moser) to the Minister in China (Reinsch)
Sir: Confirming my telegram of November 11, 1 p.m.,2 in reply to the Legation’s telegram of the 9th instant with regard to the public safety and police conditions here, I have the honor to state that the accession to control of the Bolshevik Party at Petrograd on November 5 [sic] received a sympathetic support at Harbin, and at first it threatened to overthrow the administration of General Horvat and the Chinese Eastern Railway. On the 7th instant the Soldiers’ and Workmen’s Delegates held a meeting and attempted to oust General Horvat, but the resolution failed to secure the necessary majority. An alternative resolution was then passed to form a Committee of Public Safety, which should undertake to control the lawless population and provide a proper police. Its members were chosen from [Page 3] each of the several parties or institutions here which claim a voice in the popular government, and two of the committee were attached to the railway administration to watch its operations, in the public interests. General Horvat expected at any moment to be arrested, and for a short time the situation looked grave.
By the 10th, however, it became apparent that the Bolshevik Party was going to meet with considerable opposition here, as well as elsewhere, and that the civil population was by no means inclined to permit the soldiers and workmen to carry things all their own way. Its willingness, even eagerness, for foreign intervention as preferable was freely discussed. The British Consul, Mr. Porter, and myself then called together upon General Horvat and asked him for a clear expression of his views. He told us that we were all sitting upon a volcano, but that the opposition the Bolsheviks had stirred up made him much more sanguine. They had begun to realize the gravity of any action that might bring about foreign intervention, and were making an effort to restrain their extreme followers and to avoid any clash with foreign interests. He felt that the crisis had passed, for the time being, at any rate.
Mr. Porter and I then took occasion to impress upon him the importance, from an international point of view, of maintaining order in Harbin. We stated that we were obliged to regard him as the head of the local administration and the one upon whom we had to rely for the protection of our nationals. He could inform the Bolsheviks, or whatever party might pretend to power, that his removal from his place as head of the Russian administration by any individual or body of revolutionists could not be looked upon with indifference; but that any attempt of such a nature would oblige us to ask our Governments to take such measures as they believed advisable for the protection of their nationals in Manchuria.
General Horvat promised to inform us immediately of any serious movements threatening to jeopardize our interests or to take the control of the administration from his hands. (See my letter to General Horvat, enclosed in quadruplicate with despatches dated November 10.1)
At this writing the town seems quiet, though sporadic cases of violence and incendiary speech, on the part of the soldiers, still occur. I enclose herewith a copy of an announcement of the Committee of Public Safety, published in the newspapers, which has apparently had a good effect. Also are enclosed copies in translation of other items reporting disturbances at Station Manchouli and an anti-Jewish demonstration here.2
[Page 4]While the Bolsheviks as a party have lost much of their place and sympathy here, and it is not believed that they will excite or be the cause of any immediate serious outbreak, nevertheless some of the soldiers continue to engage in public meetings where inflammatory speeches are indulged in. Also the sympathy of their leaders for the striking waiters and the demands of the shop sales people has led them to close the restaurants and the principal shops until the demands of the strikers are met, which means indefinitely. This causes considerable hardship to both Russian and foreign residents, but has not yet produced violence and is a condition which can only be ameliorated by local representations.
I have [etc.]