861.00/3837: Telegram
The Ambassador in France ( Sharp ) to the Acting Secretary of State
[Received 11:10 p.m.]
7183. Your 7343, February 8, 5 p.m., has been discussed with Mr. Beneš this morning who stated that he would telegraph to the Czech representative at Omsk requesting a full report regarding the situation among the Czech troops and directing him to take measures to ameliorate the situation complained of, that it was his natural desire to avoid all possible cause of friction or complaint. He further said that the situation of the Czecho-Slovak troops in Siberia had become a difficult one as a certain proportion of the soldiers were unwilling to continue their campaign against the Bolsheviks because the armistice having been signed between the contending powers they did not see the reason why they themselves should continue the fight against the Bolsheviks while the Allies were doing no fighting on their side, that the troops of the Allied powers having ceased hostilities the Czechs were desirous themselves of returning home. On the other hand there was still a considerable element of the army willing to continue the campaign against the Bolsheviks. He said that the failure of the [Page 279] Allies in not sending ammunition and clothing and supplies to the Czech troops in Siberia tended to aggravate the situation, but that he would be glad, as already stated, to communicate at once with his Government’s representative at Omsk.