861.00/3613
The British Chargé (Barclay) to the Acting Secretary of State
Memorandum
His Britannic Majesty’s Chargé d’Affaires presents his compliments to the Acting Secretary of State and has the honour to inform him, by direction of his Government, that General Janin and General Knox have come to an agreement dealing with their respective sphere[s] of activities in Siberia. All the Allied troops, Russian as well as foreign, west of Lake Baikal, will henceforth be controlled by General Janin, subject to any orders which he may wish to give to British troops and to the concurrence of His Majesty’s Government as advised by General Knox.
General Knox will be associated with General Janin as Director of Communications, charged with the special duty of dealing with all questions of arrangements for sending contingents to the Front and the supply of materials. The agreement does not modify the understanding that the Japanese enjoy special powers East of Lake Baikal, in regard to all troops operating in that area.
[Page 462]In bringing the above to the notice of the United States Government, His Majesty’s Chargé d’Affaires is directed to explain that the arrangement is merely intended to coordinate communication between Eastern and Western Siberia, and to secure to the best possible advantage the utilization of available resources.
His Majesty’s Government understand that an arrangement satisfactory to both parties has already been come to between General Janin and Admiral Kolchak in regard to this agreement.