File No. 861.00/1978
The Consul at Harbin ( Moser ) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 8, 2.48 p.m.]
Reports from American engineers, Pogranichnaya, state that Bolsheviks at station Grodekovo stop westbound trains and remove all men without foreign passports between ages 18 and 35. Report also seems authentic that women between 18 and 30 are removed. Same source reports information that large Bolshevik force concentrated at Nikolsk-Ussuriisk, and 300 armed prisoners have joined Bolsheviks at Grodekovo. I passed through both towns one week ago, saw small force at Nikolsk, about 200 Bolsheviks, Grodekovo. Nearly all boys and immature men from 17 to 27 years, the majority of them armed and boisterous without responsible leaders. They impressed me as young street vagrants in United States without stability and no realization of the responsibilities they have assumed. Barrows and myself thought that with intelligent experienced leaders from outside they would voluntarily restore order.
Kolchak, in command of Chinese Eastern force, has concentrated all present available [forces] at Pogranichnaya, preparing to take offensive against Grodekovo and Nikolsk. He has 1,200 Russian troops and 600 Chinese but only eight field guns and sufficient ammunition. Plans to recruit, equip, and train troops at Pogranichnaya strong enough for offensive which the Vladivostok population looks for generally with relief. Chinese troops will not take any part in actual fighting, but will be left behind to guard railway line. Besides forces mentioned, approximately 2,500 Chinese under Chinese command concentrated at Pogranichnaya protect frontier. Kolchak [Page 191] informed me this morning that Chinese authorities were throwing every obstacle in his way and it was necessary to push on to Russian soil. He has been ordered here by British Government to organize force for intervention and found himself deserted. Siberian reserves ordered up by Germany, and the Allies were opposing with nothing but words.
Semenov has returned to Manchuria and has apparently again beaten the Bolsheviks back beyond the Onon River; stated that he cannot hold his position much longer without foreign troops. Is receiving money from Japanese as well as arms. There are twenty Japanese with him at Manchuria and a number of Japanese have joined his ranks as volunteers in the guise of [Chinese?]. [Japanese?] military agents very numerous and active at Harbin, have established their own communications with Semenov’s force.
In conversation with British Consul to-day, he informed me that he confidentially understood from his Government that the United States considered military intervention on the part of Japan, the Allies and ourselves would be unfavorably regarded by the Russians. I believe it my duty to state from my acquaintance with all classes in Siberia and nearly four years’ experience my firm conviction that, with the exception of the young vagrant class of Bolsheviks already alluded to, the whole population would welcome such joint intervention and in its absence will turn to Germany or to any other power that can promise the restoration of order. Major Barrows, the best military adviser that has been here, will fully support this view.