File No. 861.00/2227
The Consul General at Irkutsk (Harris ) to the Secretary of State 1
[Received July 9, 1918, 9.44 a.m.]
236[26?]. No train or telegraph service west of this city. Krasnoyarsk reported in hands of anti-Bolsheviks. Large numbers armed prisoners have arrived from Chita and Semenov front, some remaining in Irkutsk and others proceeding westward to oppose Czechs. Swedish mission in Irkutsk is composed largely of German officers. Swedes and Germans together are trying to buy up tallow, cocoanut oil and coffee for’ shipment to Germany. In secret meeting of internationalists held June 18, it was decided to hold present Bolshevik government in power even if same wished to resign. In recent convention [conversation] with Geyzman, Commissary of Foreign Affairs, he informed me that three ways were being considered to disarm Czechs. First was to blow up the [omission] tunnels; second, to recall all troops now engaged against Semenov; and, third, to arm [Page 269] every available prisoner in Siberia. When Red Guard killed were buried on June 18, 2,000 armed prisoners marched in parade.
- Sent via the Consulate at Vladivostok (No. 36).↩