File No. 861.00/3177
The Ambassador in Japan (Morris) to the Secretary of State
[Received 12.43 p.m.]
I am now informed that the Japanese General Staff has completed arrangements with Semenov, Kalmykov and Gamov, atamans of Cossacks in eastern Siberia, and Makovkin, captain of Cossacks, to organize a Russian army of 20,000 men. It is understood that the General Staff will furnish equipment and bear the necessary expenses.
My Russian colleague is greatly disturbed over this action. He understands that it is to be followed by the withdrawal of a part of the Japanese troops now in Manchuria and the substitution of the Cossacks who will be in the pay of Japan. He further states that the Cossack leaders have been directed not to cooperate with Horvat or the central Siberian government and he sees in this an effort by the Japanese Government to apply the same policy in eastern Siberia which has since successfully established Japanese influence in portions [of Manchuria?].