861.77/1352: Telegram
The Consul at Vladivostok (Macgowan) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 14—10:35 a.m.]
43. Smith63 advised.
“Present plans of Zemstvos outlined to me by their President Medviedeff; Allied operation of railway desired by them as well as railroad employees until the departure of the troops; Bolsheviki giving Zemstvos their support and workmen decided upon the 4th also to lend their full support; only sufficient forces to guard railroad will be retained, all other troops to be demobilized when [Page 536] Habarovsk is taken and the intimated Japanese evacuation takes place. Russians intend to ask the United States for railway inspectors and other aid if possible. It is hoped also that the American Red Cross remains temporarily and that Y.M.C.A. will continue rural and efficient units here.
Absence of locomotives makes the position of the Czechs at Irkutsk very bad according to the Czecho-Slovak Commissioner and Czechs arriving there on foot. I leave for the interior today destination Irkutsk in compliance with Committee’s request and while probably everything possible is being done, the presence of a representative of the Committee may have a good effect on Czechs.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Souchan coal mines will open shortly; quiet has been restored here and along the railway.”
Repeated to Morris.
- C. H. Smith, American representative on the Inter-Allied Railway Committee.↩