File No. 861.00/2215
The Consul at Vladivostok ( Caldwell ) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 8, 11.30 a.m.]
30. Supplementing my June 29, 9 p.m.1 No disturbance since 29th. City policed by Czechs assisted by Japanese and British and to less extent by American marines who police immediate vicinity of Consulate only. Czechs now fighting force of at least 2,000 Magyars and Germans under German officers near Nikolsk. Two hundred wounded Czechs have just returned here bringing 30 Hungarian prisoners.
Number killed here trivial, cannot be accurately ascertained but is reported Czechs had 4 killed and 21 wounded and newspapers report about 60 Red Guards killed including uncertain number Hungarians.
Czechs and Consular Corps after joint conference decided to deal with mayor and Zemstvo as legally elected local officials whose functions were temporarily suspended by Soviet force and declining to have any dealings with so-called autonomous Siberian government which is endeavoring to establish itself here, as result of Czech action, but is meeting great opposition from sections of all classes, principal objection being that it has no authority for claiming to be government of Siberia and that its representatives are not acceptable. I do not believe it can now establish itself here.
Soviet has not existed since Czechs delivered ultimatum, 29th, its five principal members remaining voluntarily in Czech barracks for self-protection until yesterday, when they made speeches at funeral of Red Guards killed 29th. This funeral was attended by five to six thousand people who gave cheers for the United States of America opposite the [omission] Brooklyn and before this Consulate, under the impression Brooklyn dressed ship out of sympathy Red Guards funeral not realizing it was our Independence Day, some even mistaking Admiral’s flag for black flag of anarchy. Crowd and speakers evinced no hostility toward Czechs but appealed to them to stop fighting, stating Czechs here being induced to fight by capitalists against whom Soviets could not stand without aid of war prisoners for which reason Soviets made use of armed prisoners.
Czech’s funeral of 2d attended by much smaller crowd including mayor and representative of so-called Siberian government who both made speeches when about grave. Mayor also attended Red Guard funeral yesterday. Consular Corps all attended Czech funeral.
[Page 262]Japanese Consul informed me this morning his Government has decided to furnish arms to Czechs. Czechs wish to act in full cooperation with Allies and have consulted Allies’ local representatives about all their actions, looking particularly to the United States for guidance and assistance and I regret that Admiral Knight and Secretary of State so far been able to offer them less encouragement and assistance [than] representatives of Japan and Great Britain. I consider situation requires immediate action and that we should assist Czechs in their fight against armed war prisoners by furnishing arms, munitions, Red Cross hospitals with doctors and supplies and also some armed force. This action would not be for or against any Russian party but on same ground as Czechs; namely, against Germany and Austria. It should be possible to establish some front against Germany and at the same time produce conditions under which election for temporary government could be held and so an improvement effected economically.
Copy sent Tokyo and Peking.