861.01/106: Telegram

The Ambassador in Japan (Morris), temporarily at Omsk, to the Secretary of State

Having expressed in my August 8th, 5 p.m., the belief that it will be possible with Allied assistance and counsel, so to strengthen the Kolchak government that it will be able ultimately to rescue the Russian people from Bolshevik tyranny, I now submit for the Department’s consideration a summary of my conclusions on the specific measures of assistance which will be required.

  • First, in order to furnish the military supplies and the credits which Admiral Kolchak has so earnestly requested (see my July 27th, 4 p.m.35), it will be necessary for the United States and the Allies: [Page 409]
    1,
    To extend, if the present critical situation is successfully met within the next month, formal recognition to Kolchak and his associates, as the Provisional Government of Russia. Without this recognition and the substantial assistance which it implies, the Kolchak government, even though it should survive the present military crisis, could not, in my judgment, continue to function much longer.
    2,
    To grant to the Provisional Government the following credits: for military supplies, as reported in my July 31st, 6 p.m., $90,000,000; for commercial help (see my telegram August 8th, 5 p.m.), $70,000,000 [$75,000,000]; for the Inter-Allied Railway Committee (August 9th, 5 p.m.36), $20,000,000; making total credits required of $185,000,000. To this total I would suggest adding $15,000,000 to cover expenses and salaries of Inter-Allied railway inspectors and the experts and commissions hereinafter referred to, making a final total of $200,000,000.
    3,
    To agree to and cooperate with the plan whereby all monetary tokens, estimated at 13,500,000,000 rubles, now circulating in Siberia and other non-Bolshevik territory of Russia, shall be exchanged for standard Russian State Bank notes. This plan contemplates the immediate release of the notes now at Vladivostok and the placing of a contract with the American Bank Note Company for the immediate printing of additional notes to the amount of about 9,000,000,000 rubles (see my telegram August 4th, 11 a.m.).
  • Second, in order to keep open the line of communication from Vladivostok to Omsk and thus permit the prompt transportation of the supplies and materials imported under the credits stated above, it will be necessary:
    1,
    To continue the inter-Allied railway agreement and increase the number of Allied inspectors (see my telegram July 27th, 5 [4?] p.m.37).
    2,
    To supply at least 40,000 additional troops to take the place of the Czechs (see my July 22nd, midnight,38 and July 30th, 5 p.m.39).
    3,
    To place to the credit of the Inter-Allied Railway Committee, to be expended by it as conditions might require, the sum of $20,000,000 in addition to the amount already [omission] and treat the total as a portion of the credits granted to the Kolchak government (see my telegram of August 5th, 10 p.m.40).
  • Third, in order to ensure an honest and efficient use of credits and distribution of supplies it will be necessary in my judgment:
    1,
    To organize in Siberia an Allied military supply committee and authorize it to appoint not less than 300 military inspectors for the purpose of supervising the delivery and use of the military supplies furnished (see my telegram July 31st, 6 p.m.).
    2,
    To organize in Siberia a committee of commercial experts and authorize them to appoint [omission] agent and to supervise the delivery and distribution of goods purchased under the commercial credit (see my August 8th, 5 p.m.).
  • Fourth, in addition to the above measures and in order to give to the Russian people the help and advice which they believe the United States is peculiarly fitted to give them, our Government should in my judgment:
    1,
    Appoint a diplomatic representative at the seat [of] the Kolchak government; 2, associate with the representative a commercial expert, a financial expert, a labor expert and an agricultural expert; and 3, continue the Red Cross activities at the present strength during the coming winter.

In submitting this plan for the consideration of the Department may I emphasize again what appear to me in the limited field of my observation the three absolutely essential requirements: the formal recognition of the Kolchak government, the grant of credits and the despatch of at least 25,000 American troops to assist in guarding the railway. Unless our policy includes all of these measures we can do little if anything to help Russia by way of Siberia and we will be forced to abandon eastern Siberia to Japanese domination.

Morris
  1. Ante, p. 399.
  2. Ante, p. 270.
  3. Post, p. 567.
  4. Ante, p. 395.
  5. Ante, p. 292.
  6. Apparently an incorrect reference; telegram from Omsk, Aug. 9, 5 p.m., p. 270, may be intended.