861.00/4783: Telegram
The Commanding General of the American Expeditionary Forces in Siberia (Graves) to The Adjutant General (Harris)58
345. While in theory all Russians are treated the same in use of the railroad, in practice the governmental class will not permit supplies to go to localities not under their charge, nor will they permit persons to use the railroad unless they have passports given only at short notice. This restricts the use of the railroad to persons living in certain towns on the railroad and prevents all peasants living off railroad and many living on railroad in towns where there are no troops, from getting food.
Olga and Tethui districts off railroad have been heretofore supplied by boat from Vladivostok. Kolchak representatives have stopped all supplies from going to that district, as they claim this is Bolshevist territory, and there are now 40,000 people without flour and living principally on oats. They sent representatives to inform the consular body of the situation, but Russian military arrested representatives [Page 509] and put them in jail where they have kept them for two months. I feel sure of these facts. This oppression and starvation creates a resentment which extends to the Allies, as we are making this condition possible by our presence here, as Kolchak could not exist in Eastern Siberia without Allied troops. The fact of the case is Kolchak territory is a little strip along the railroad guarded by Allied troops.
Bolshevists are assembling in bands from 100 to 1,000. This makes it necessary to call in small detachments and assemble troops where they can be protected themselves. It has now become a bitter guerilla warfare. There is no assistance by Russians, and to carry out obligations imposed by railroad agreement will require more troops. I assume Japan is the only Allied nation willing to put in enough troops to clear up territory. I estimate at least 70 per cent of people are, generally speaking, peasants getting no food and are antagonistic to Kolchak, and as our policy results in helping only Kolchak, these peasants are antagonists to the Allies. I was informed this morning by Colonel Butenko, eastern front commander, that Kolchak had suggested to Horvat either Semenoff or Kreschatinsky to be commander of troops in Baikal and Colonel says Semenoff is to be appointed. In view of their relations to the Japanese, especially Semenoff, this suggestion indicates to me that Kolchak expects to rely on Japan.
- Copy transmitted to the Department of State June 30.↩