861.00/3805: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Commission to Negotiate Peace

7343. Possibly you will see an opportunity to discuss with Mr. Beneš, the Czecho-Slovak Minister of Foreign Affairs, the situation described in the following telegram from the American Consul-General at Omsk. Deliver copy also to the Secretary of State:

“February 3rd, 9 a.m. Attitude of Czechs at Western Siberia daily becoming more aggravating. Not fighting themselves, they are creating a physical condition which is preventing any one else from fighting. Am informed by military men that 30,000 Czechs, for example, occupy as much space as 1,000,000 men ordinarily. Hundreds of the best class rail carriages are occupied by petty officers who refuse to release them to Russians. They are spread over the best buildings without the least consideration for space or the wishes of others, who also have sick and wounded, for this is being felt at Imperial Palace by American Red Cross.

The Russians and Allies owe Czechs very much for what they have accomplished in Siberia, but their present behavior rapidly undoing whatever good results may have been achieved in the past. At some place it is reported that they actually block military operations by refusing right of railway. Such action was part which rapidly brought them into disfavor with all Allied representatives here and unless policy is changed eliminating friction caused by them they will soon be strongly disliked, all of which may bring unpleasant political consequence. Harris.”

Polk