861.00/8691: Telegram

The Chargé in Japan (Bell) to the Secretary of State

196. The following telegram has been received from the American consul at Vladivostok:

“June 6, 5 p.m. Repeat to Department. Semenoff brought suite, about sixty including twenty-three generals.

Head of local authorities spent six hours aboard Semenoff’s ship Sunday. Semenoff [is said to have admitted that he was not commander in chief or] supreme ruler, that arrival was untimely and promised he would not interfere with affairs at Vladivostok and he immediately after printed a proclamation partly in this sense though in the name of “Staff of commander in chief of all the armed forces of the Russian eastern borderland and field [hetman of all the Cossack armies.” Is said to have promised to leave Vladivostok but did not say when.] Local authorities puzzled.

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Civilians from Harbin released. One of them just told me Semenoff and civilian adherents want to go beyond Iman to fight Bolsheviki southern Maritime Province under the existing local authorities and desired view of the United States Government.

Japanese authorities have informed Semenoff in writing they consider him private citizen, would give him no support by authority and are not tolerating armed forces south of Iman.

Semenoff soliciting interview with the consular corps.[”]

Bell