File No. 861.00/2216
The Consul at Harbin (Moser) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 7, 3.51 p.m.]
Eight hundred refugees now living tents and freight ears at Manchuria [station]; homes destroyed by advancing Bolsheviks and war prisoners after Semenov’s1 retreat. Fifty per cent children, thirty per cent women, completely destitute; mostly farmers, coal miners, railway employees, village traders. Are being fed now by Semenov’s private means but he can not furnish supplies; have appealed to Russian and American Red Cross for clothing and homes sufficient during warm weather but if winter comes before order restored they will require shelter. In any case many driven out before they could plant crops and there will be no harvest; they must be fed during winter.
Thirty thousand Buriats also driven from Siberia by war prisoners’ advance, have taken refuge in Manchuria, destitute of everything. To-day they appealed to Horvat2 and all the consular agents and’ American Red Cross for help and we must have immediate follows [answer?]. Please inform National Red Cross committee that I request authority to appoint investigators and to draw sufficient funds in my discretion to give our share of assistance through local Red Cross chapter.