861.00/8703: Telegram
The Chargé in Japan (Bell) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 12—2:06 p.m.]
200. Following from consul, Vladivostok.
“June 12, 11 a.m. Wednesday, secretary of Semenoff visited consular corps and requested its mediation between the local authorities and the hetman. Consular corps refused. The secretary explained hetman demanded recognition as the head of the government and commander in chief with exclusive control foreign affairs.
Foreign affairs would surely include sale goods at Vladivostok and of concessions. Newspaper reports Japanese merchants already commenced negotiating with the hetman promising supplies and money against the delivery in Japan of the Vladivostok stores.
The local authorities remain uncompromising.
Conference of representatives Cossack armies Friday adopted a resolution requesting that Semenoff go away and requesting all of the units to obey Verzhbitsky.35 Hetman is said to have only 1,400 followers but they are armed and it is said arms and ammunition including machine guns are being sent aboard ship.[”]
- Of the Kappel forces.↩