861.00/5378
The British Appointed Ambassador on Special Mission (Grey) to the Secretary of State
Dear Mr. Secretary: I cabled to the Foreign Office on Friday, giving the information and asking the question which you had desired me to ask about possible Naval co-operation at Vladivostock. To this cable I have not yet received any reply, but I received this morning a cable from the Foreign Office expressing great apprehension at the possibility of American support to Koltchak being withdrawn or suspended. Lord Curzon says that all his information agrees that Admiral Koltchak’s fall would involve the extension of Bolshevism throughout Siberia and that without the necessary supplies it is a practical certainty that he will not be able to maintain himself. This refers more particularly to a loan of $7,000,000 promised by American bankers to Koltchak for the purchase of military supplies, the withdrawal of which seems to have been threatened, and the immediate handing over of 14,000 rifles purchased in America which are now at Vladivostock.
In the meanwhile the British representative at Omsk has been instructed to exercise a moderating influence with Admiral Koltchak as regards the internal administration of the country, but Lord Curzon’s information is to the effect that the Admiral’s control over Semenoff and Kalmikoff is at present very imperfect owing to lack of strength.
Yours sincerely,