861.00/4191: Telegram
The Ambassador in Japan (Morris) to the Acting Secretary of State
[Received April 1, 2:15 a.m.]
The discussions in Government circles referred to in the last paragraph of my March 23, 4 p.m.1 have apparently reached a conclusion and the silence of the past two weeks was broken this afternoon when General Tanaka, Minister of War, called upon me. He referred to the conflict of policy between our respective forces in Siberia and the embarrassing position in which he was placed, being held responsible for the activities of the Japanese troops, and yet being without any agreed policy to guide him. He admitted that the Cossack military commanders were oppressing the population, and this oppression had led to unrest and disorder. He stated that the Japanese troops were being changed and new divisions substituted for the old ones, and that now was the time to define our joint policy for the future. He expressed his personal conviction that military activities should be confined hereafter simply to the guarding of the railway. This however was a diplomatic question and his only reason for seeking this confidential talk with me was to urge upon me the importance of a frank exchange of views with Viscount Uchida and obtain a speedy understanding between our Governments.
In reply I briefly reviewed the causes which led to the joint expedition and explained the policy which General Graves had pursued. I concluded by expressing my willingness to discuss the question with the Foreign Minister if he so desired. General Tanaka then explained that he proposed to submit to the Cabinet tomorrow the views which he had expressed to me and that I would probably hear from the Foreign Minister.
This interview indicates to me that the dominant influences in the General Staff have abandoned any plans they may have cherished for independent action in Siberia, are prepared to cooperate with General Graves and to modify their previous policy of supporting [Page 552] local Cossack leaders. This interview is supported by a letter received this morning from General Graves, in which he states that Ivanoff-Rinoff has sought a meeting with him, with a view to a better understanding, and had recently stated that the public abuse of Americans had not succeeded and they were now going to try other tactics; that a Colonel Butenko is showing a more conciliatory spirit; that his only serious difficulty is with the representatives of Japan. …
Should the Foreign Minister consult me on this question of policy, would the Department approve of my suggesting, as my personal view the policy I submitted for consideration in the last paragraph of my telegram of March 8, 10 a.m.?2