861.77/1312: Telegram

The Consul at Vladivostok (Macgowan) to the Secretary of State

17. Smith83 sends following:

“Telegram received from the Czech Chief of Staff, Irkutsk, by Girsa,84 reports as follows:

Poles have surrendered to the Bolsheviki. Czech rear guard now 700 versts west of Irkutsk and 16,000 Czechs have not yet arrived there, but all are expected to arrive there within a month and here within three months as Cheremkhovo coal mines are working. Fifth Bolshevik Army Commander at Tomsk promised transportation home if the Bolsheviki [Czechs] surrendered with arms and all Russian property, including gold and gave up Koichak, but the Czechs refused. Irkutsk Socialist Revolutionary government holds Koichak prisoner. This government considered weak and unable to withstand Bolsheviki.

Czechs and Allies here think Committee and Technical Board should operate railway until evacuation completed. This depends on action of the Japanese, but if possible should be done. Repeated to Morris.”

Macgowan
  1. American representative on the Inter-Allied Railway Committee.
  2. Vaclav Girsa, political representative of the Czechoslovak Army in Siberia.