File No. 861.00/1728
The Secretary of State to the Minister in China (Reinsch)
Department has received following message through Vologda from Robins, of Red Cross in Russia: …1
Documents in support of above are imperfectly received, inconclusive and unconvincing. They mention British, French, American, and Japanese Consuls, Admiral Knight, American and French Ministers, Peking, and “Allied Ministers, Peking.” They tend to show consultations and communications between the above-mentioned representatives of powers at war with Germany and representatives of Siberian government; namely, Horvat, Ustrugov, Stal, Derber, and Kolchak. The inference is that correspondence between the Allied powers in Peking and the representatives of the Siberian government, Vladivostok, is being carried on through Admiral Knight and the American Consul and that messages for the Siberian government may be carried through American cipher. One document, so called, tends to establish conference between American and French Ministers, Peking, and Ustrugov and Stal concerning recognition of Siberian government and “volunteer army.”
One is a report from one Yanson about papers found in possession of one Kolobov, “a member of the government of independent Siberia,” so called.
Department is satisfied the policy of non-interference in the affairs of other nations, so long maintained by the Government of the United States, is being followed by its representatives in China, Japan, and Siberia. There is no reason why the representatives of the United States Government should not listen to persons interested in the prosecution of the war against Germany and Austria but the Department expects of its representatives that no encouragement [Page 154] be given to persons and that no commitment as to policy, no matter how slight, shall be made except under instruction from the Department.
In view of the apparent seriousness with which the matter is viewed by the person signing the message to Robins, you are requested to report by cable the facts and to repeat to Harbin and Vladivostok with the request that they do the same.
Repeat to Tokyo for information.