861.00/3829
The Secretary of War (Baker) to the Acting Secretary of State
O.C.S.
Washington, January 30,
1919.
Sir: I have the honor to enclose herewith for
your information copies of a letter18 signed by the representatives of the Ail-Russian
Government, arrested in Omsk on November 18, 1918;19 of a
translation of the same,18 and of a letter of transmittal from Major-General Wm. S. Graves, the Commanding
General, American Expeditionary Force, Siberia. Your attention is
invited especially to the views of General
Graves as expressed in his letter.
Respectfully,
[Page 466]
[Enclosure]
The Commanding General of the American
Expeditionary Forces in Siberia (Graves) to The Adjutant
General (Harris)
Vladivostok, December 13, 1918.
Subject: Conditions in Siberia.
- 1.
- I inclose translation of letter20 signed by the representatives of the
All-Russian Government, arrested in Omsk on November 18,
1918.
- 2.
- All information that I am able to obtain leads me to the
conclusion that the government headed by Admiral Kolchak cannot last.
Representatives of the democratic class all state that the act
at Omsk on November 18th has resulted in cementing and bringing
together all elements who have been opposed to the old Russian
Government. I am informed that many of these people are inclined
to attach blame to General
Knox of the British service for bringing about
this condition. They have also informed me that some of the
people are beginning to suspect General Janin of being favorable to the change.
General Knox
showed me a communication from his government, in which the
British Government approved the proposition submitted by him, to
the effect that General
Janin would command all forces, Russian and
Allies, operating against the Bolsheviks, and that General Knox would command
the line of communications and have charge of the training
troops of the rear. The approval of the British Government,
however, was given only on condition that the Russian Govt
agreed to this proposition. General Knox was in to see me this morning and
stated that he had equipment and material coming from England
for the equipment and arming of 100,000 Russians. I presume from
this that Admiral
Kolchak has consented to the proposition.
- 3.
- I have also been informed by representatives of the democratic
class of people that the same methods are being pursued by
Admiral Kolchak that
prevailed in the time of the Czar. Russian troops in Siberia are
arresting and murdering people and basing their action on the
authority of Admiral
Kolchak that everyone opposing the government
should be punished. Major General Khrestatitski, Inspector
General of the Russian Forces in the Far East, appealed to me a
couple days ago for some assistance from the United States in
arming, clothing and equipping the Russian troops in the Far
East. He also informed me that the Japanese had agreed to supply
new equipment for 10,000 men for duty in the Far East. I asked
him what the Japanese demanded in return for this, and he
replied,
[Page 467]
in effect,
that they had no demand to make at this time, but the matter
would be settled when a new Russian Government was formed. He
said they suggested that probably they would want the operation
of the Chinese Eastern Railway from General Horvat. However, this was not a
condition. General Khrestatitski stated that it was their
desire, if possible, to avoid asking any one Ally to help them,
and they hoped to get help from all the Allies, but they may be
forced, in the absence of getting this help, to accept what they
could get. Later the same day, General
Romanoffsky informed me that a Japanese
representative had come from Japanese headquarters here and
informed General Horvat,
in effect, that it was evident to the Japanese that their
efforts to help the Russian people were not only not appreciated
but were actually misrepresented to the Allies, and he gave
General Horvat
notice that all offers of assistance were withdrawn. Russians
continue to inform me that because of our presence here, and on
account of that presence the autocratic class are enabled to try
to re-establish an autocratic form of government, the United
States is losing prestige and the people are not sure as to our
belief in a representative form of government for other
countries. I do not attach much importance to this idea, but I
do believe that the prestige of the United States is falling.
The feeling between the two classes is becoming so bitter that
it is almost impossible to stand on the side line and not be
accused by both classes. Whatever feeling against the United
States is engendered by this situation, will, however, disappear
in time.
