File No. 861.00/2268

The Chargé in China ( MacMurray ) to the Secretary of State

[Telegram]

Following telegram received to-day from Harbin for immediate repetition. Have repeated it to Vladivostok and Tokyo.

July 11, 8 p.m. Repeat Department and Admiral Knight. Suspicion rapidly gaining ground that Horvat’s game is closely connected with plot to establish Grand Duke Michael as constitutional monarch. Kornilov and Klemm [Kolchak?] both secure what should have been [representation in] cabinet. Major Nearne, British secret agent, absolutely assured me Horvat told him personally that Grand Duke Michael might be made Emperor with Constituent Assembly in which event his adventure would not clash as their aims were identical. Klemm [Kolchak?] told him Horvat had direct communication with Michael (evidently through Pflug mission), that Grand Duke was coming to Vladivostok via Japan on Askold from Murman coast. Nearne knew Askold [had been] operating in Mediterranean, very likely now in Persian Gulf. Have [Page 280] learned Horvat was intriguing with British and Japanese Consuls without knowledge of French and American therefore [before] his coup. His proclamation declares himself oral [provisional] ruler whole Russian state but general opinion is that full Japanese support guaranteed him. Scheme will fail unless [agreement reached] with Siberian government Vladivostok and supported by Czecho-Slovaks and all Allies. American engineers inform me Japanese took over Russian telegraph wire to Changchun for their exclusive use. Newspapers report to-day arrival detachment Japanese staff and arrival yesterday of quartermaster of troops stating staff will be quartered in Millerovski, a base of Grand Duke. Newspapers also state that order had been given canceling all extra trains [Chinese Eastern] railway from 5th to 25th July on account transportation of troops. Moser.

MacMurray