File No. 861.00/2056
The Consul at Moscow (Poole) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 17, 11.46 p.m.]
626. Official gazette to-day publishes proclamation signed by Lenin, Trotsky, and Bonch Bruevich of which following is digest:
Enemies of Russian people making last desperate attempt to regain authority [over] land and race. Working people hate their oppressors, therefore their former exploiters look abroad for help among foreign imperialists of [all] camps. Czecho-Slovak corps has considered itself at disposal France and received constant material support from her. Russian counter-revolutionists, together with Allied plotters, decided to use Czechs to overthrow Soviet authority and urged stupefied Czechs to rebellion. Czechs temporarily seized Penza, and authority of bourgeoisie is established there at present. Pursued by our troops they have seized Samara, Omsk, and Novo Nikolaevsk. Siberian bourgeoisie with officers expelled from army either for enmity to people [omission?] immediately formed their “temporary Siberian government.” Following proclamation sent to People’s Commissariat of [by] this government dated Omsk, June 10:
Authority of Bolsheviks in Siberia destroyed and temporary Siberian government closed [chosen] by Siberian Duma, consisting of Zemstvo and municipal self-governments, Cooperative Societies and national Cossack councils, is governing Siberia. Siberian government makes its first object reestablishment of organs of self-government chosen on basis of general equitable direct and secret voting and speedy convocation Constituent Assembly to decide finally political organization of Siberia and her attitude to European Russia. In pursuance instructions, temporary Siberian government informs you we are ready to guarantee prompt and continuous shipment of foodstuffs into starving governments Russia and to begin negotiations regarding conditions of supplying Great Russia which temporary government considers indissolubly tied to Siberia. Will be impossible to supply Russia however if People’s Commissars attempt to cross Urals with idea of reestablishing overthrown Soviets. We shall meet these attempts with armed force and [stoppage of] shipment food supplies into Russia. Commander of Steppes Corps, Colonel E. Ivanov, and Plenipotentiary of Temporary Siberian Government, Lyakhovich.
If these people had any real force they would not turn to us with their miserable promises and threats. Ivanov, the Siberian Kornilov [Page 204] is asking your support of Constituent Assembly against working-men’s and peasants’ Soviets. This colonel is supported [by] Cadets, right Social Revolutionists and Mensheviks, their armies are the misled Czechs who are kept with money of Anglo-French capitalists. If Siberian bourgeoisie is allowed to choke the Siberian workingmen and peasants, Siberian counter-revolutionists will immediately cross Urals to smash [establish] authority of landowners and capitalists throughout country. Under guise of Constituent Assembly struggle for rule of rich over poor being carried on. People’s Commissars enter into no negotiations with counter-revolutionary adventurers. Reliable detachments have been sent against the rebels. The Russian, French and Czecho-Slovak imperialists will not overturn Russian revolution by hunger. Southeast is coming to help of starving north. People’s Commissariat, Tsaritsyn, hopes to ship enormous stores from Don and Kuban, in next few days. To effect food shipments, at same time to wipe bourgeois treachery off face of earth and protect Trans-Siberian Railroad, following extraordinary measures taken: (1) mobilization in Vologda rural and Siberian districts of persons subject military service of last five years; (2) mobilization in Moscow of artillery and engineering troops of last five years; (3) strict watch on local bourgeoisie; (4) former officers working honestly for reestablishment of Soviet army to be protected, others to be exterminated.