File No. 861.00/3161
The Consul General at Irkutsk (Harris) to the Secretary of State1
[Received November 4, 11.53 a.m.]
164. Situation Irkutsk to-day very much better. [Omission] quiet; 1,500 Czechs and 500 Japanese in barracks here. Japanese control three out of five telegraph lines to Vladivostok. Japanese are desirous proving utility wherever there is a local organization and [omission] consists of 200 Bolshevik members and a monarchist club of 300 members.
Latest news from Omsk indicates that function [fusion] of Omsk government with that of all-Russian government is progressing favorably and outlook this respect better. Latest reliable reports from Ural front extremely unfavorable. Ufa has been evacuated. Apparently demoralization is ceasing [seizing?] first army. Second army badly in need of boots and ammunition. Prevalent feeling is [Page 424] that Bolsheviks will soon take Chelyabinsk and that [Irtysh] River at Omsk will become front before Christmas. Effort should be made to hasten supply of clothing and ammunition.
Situation Chita: Czech-Semenov incident serious, and two shipments of autos and trucks now en route to Chita [for] Ural front. As many supplies for Chita will pass through Manchuria, I suggest Allies take precautionary measures in order to prevent repetition of such Semenov incident. There are 6,000 Japanese troops Chita. Owing to explosion on railway west of Irkutsk telegraph lines to all points in western Siberia temporarily interrupted.
- Sent via the Legation in China.↩