861a.01/389: Telegram
The Ambassador in Japan ( Warren ) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 16—5:50 a.m.]
170. I sent Lieutenant Colonel O. P. M. Hazzard, in Japan as language student under Military Attaché at this Embassy, as courier to Vladivostok and asked him to get certain information and return before evacuation. He is an efficient officer and I thought his presence there beneficial and what he might learn important.
I am to-day in receipt of the following telegram from him through the vice consul: [Page 863]
“Inspection of the quantity, quality, and location explosives indicates possibility serious loss of life and property if exploded by vicious or careless individual after withdrawal Japanese guards. No guards will be left in the city by Dietrichs. Survey temper residents and refugees indicates event of entry Reds active opponents will flee but majority apathetic, resigned.
Visited front, interviewed Dietrichs and Nicolai Merculoff, latter just returned from conference with Chang Tso-lin in Mukden accompanied by a Japanese official having arranged refuge for White troops in the event of defeat by the Reds. White Army will offer no resistance in the vicinity Vladivostok.
Dietrichs short of ammunition but says he will fight decisive action next few days. Consul here perfected arrangements insure safety of all Americans.”
Reference to arrangements to ensure safety refers to vice consul’s plan to use Russian Y.M.C.A. building now under American management, which is situated adjacent to the United States naval anchorage and wharf, as a place of refuge for Americans if at all necessary. Vice consul had made report on this matter in his despatch number 11 of September 27th which closes as follows:
“I do not believe that the occasion will arise which will necessitate the carrying into effect of all these plans and I do not wish to give the Department the impression that I am in the least hysterical about the matter. However, as the lives of fifty Americans are now under my care, I have deemed it advisable to take every possible precaution feeling that under present conditions discretion is the better part of valor.[”]