File No. 861.77/525

The Ambassador in Japan ( Morris ) to the Secretary of State

[Telegram]

I returned to Tokyo yesterday and found your October 18, 3 p.m., here. The phrase referred to was inserted to meet the objection of General Otani, that his jurisdiction as senior commander extended only over the forces in eastern Siberia and did not cover the Japanese forces guarding the Chinese Eastern in Manchuria or the Czechs now guarding those parts of the Trans-Siberian Railway beyond Chita. Stevens is convinced that he must have some direct authority from the military commanders in order to avoid conflict of jurisdiction between local railway officials and the military authorities. This we felt could best be accomplished if the senior commander having jurisdiction in the several districts through which the railway passed, would simply confer upon Stevens full authority to operate. If this method seems objectionable to you for other reasons, it can be changed, I think, without serious difficulty.

I will have my first interview with Uchida to-morrow.

Morris