861.77/1430: Telegram
The President of the Technical Board (Stevens) to the Acting Secretary of State
[Received March 17—3:53 p.m.]
Strike continues but I see signs of early return to work. Good order kept by the Chinese soldiers. Chinese authorities to-day took over by armed force the Russian railway guard headquarters and have disarmed railway guard. They have formally demanded of General Horvath that he surrender his civil power which perhaps will be taken over temporarily by the Russian consul general here with the approval of Social Revolutionists. I believe Chinese authorities intend to take the control of railway and to administer same acting through the Russians until such time as a responsible power is established. It is apparent that the present administration of the railway must go whatever happens. We have had no telegraph lines for two days therefore no report from Trans-Baikal territory.