File No. 861.00/2093
The Consul at Harbin (Moser) to the Secretary of State
[Received 10.15 a.m.]
Large meeting public and political men, composed principally of members former Siberian Duma of so-called Siberian autonomous government, local Blagoveshchensk Amur Valley Duma, members Siberian Cooperative Societies; for Far East. Committee held meeting upon question of requesting Allied intervention in Siberia. … member of Russian National Duma for central Siberia from [Page 218] 1905 to revolution, presented proposal that Allied help was imperative and that appeals should be made to all Allies collectively, but that Japan should be specified for the task. Vigorous discussion brought forth views that Russia’s previous services to Allies justified not appeal but her demand by right for intervention and assistance to restore new front against Germans. There were also bitter speeches warning that such action would result in Japanese seizure of Siberia, and attacking United States for dilatory policy. Alternative proposal that Allies be appealed to for aid without indicating Japan as the executive, that steps be taken to organize Siberian government which should be authorized to make a treaty with the Allies for military cooperation against Germany, was defeated. Overwhelming majority voted to appeal to Allies, specifying Japan as intervener, the majority [minority] however left the meeting. The main other note sounded by the meeting universally applauded, as expressed by the Tomsk representative of the Constituent Assembly, was that Russia’s fate would be settled not by the struggle with the Bolsheviks but by the struggle with Germany. About 150 representative men present nearly all from Siberia but the meeting was [packed], only people known to favor appeal to Japan having been invited. Strong condemnation in to-day’s newspapers which denounce action as treachery.