861.00/4207: Telegram
The Chargé in Russia (Poole) to the Acting Secretary of State
[Received April 3, 7:52 a.m.]
1017. To Paris as 72. General Ironside explains that the contact established with Siberian outposts reported Embassy’s 1000, March 26, 3 p.m. may have a strategic as well as moral importance. The expedition from this side consisted of a volunteer detachment of one British officer and ten British and five French soldiers accompanied [Page 624] by a civilian representative of the Provisional Government. Considerable numbers of partisan troops have cooperated with this nucleus. Contact is with a portion of the First Tobolsk Regiment who are reported to be well fed but poorly equipped. Occasionally rifles and ammunition have been sent from Archangel for their use. Ironside believes that Archangel and Siberian troops may be able to move southwesterly organizing partly [partisans?] as they go so as eventually to support the main Siberian movement westward from Perm toward Viatka. According to reports received here the main movement goes on successfully.
The British Commissioner Lindley as well as Ironside places hopes upon the complete union of Archangel region with Siberia this summer by way of Kotlas, Viatka. The importance of this junction in its relation to Allied policy is obvious. It would permit the termination of the present north Russian expedition, if desired, without sacrificing the friendly inhabitants of the northern region to Bolshevik reprisals and without loss of face. It would end the burden we now carry of provisioning northern Russia. The more considerable naval forces which will be here this summer will facilitate British army sent in the [a movement toward?] Kotlas to meet the Siberian advance but none of the Allied troops now here are available for offensive action. Ironside has so informed the War Office. I am very [confidentially?] informed that in reply they have suggested the possibility of sending a small number of fresh dependable troops with which to bring the Kotlas operation in conjunction with the Navy.
The Siberian junction seems the more possible because of the success which is now attending the organization of the Russian forces in this region. The British staff is making a special effort in this direction and General Marushevski has developed a capacity for leadership which is becoming evident in the bettered morale of the Russian rank and file. He is himself much encouraged by the British [and told me?] recently that the results so far achieved exceed what he dared hope for when he arrived last November. The number of formed Russian troops is more than 10,000 of whom three fourths are at the front or in the rear of the front. Mobilization is being carried out with commendable impartiality and mobilized ages [forces?] have been withdrawn from all positions not contributing directly to the military effort. A town militia of older men and youths polices Archangel. Women’s auxiliary services have been organized. There is in short substantial evidence of a sincere and fructifying effort among the Russians to hasten the Siberian junction and to organize the northern region so as to dispense with Allied support when the junction is perfected.
[Page 625]Although the progress which has been made is encouraging it must be recognized that the northern region can never of itself—never having been self-sufficient economically and having no strategic unity—resist an aggressively central Russian Government except as a salient of a well-drawn Siberian line. If the Allied expedition is withdrawn in the spring the northern government will inevitably collapse and it is Ironside’s confidential opinion that in order to cover the departure of the Allied troops it would be necessary first to disarm the Russian forces thereby completely undoing the work of the last six months. It is estimated moreover that in addition to the Allied troops and officials not less than 16,000 Russian civilians would have to be evacuated to prevent their massacre by the Bolsheviki.