861a.01/454

The Chief of the Division of Russian Affairs, Department of State (Poole) to the Secretary of State

Mr. Secretary: Mr. Skvirsky, of the so-called Commercial Delegation of the Far Eastern Republic, called at this Division this afternoon to thank this Government, as he put it, for what it had done to bring about the Japanese evacuation of the Siberian mainland. He said that this was a very happy consummation for his people and that they appreciated the large part which the friendly interest of the United States had had in bringing it about.

Mr. Skvirsky went on to say that the Far Eastern Republic still did not feel that it was freed from the danger of Japanese aggression. He referred particularly to Chang Tso-Lin’s activities, which he seemed to think were supported by Japan. He said that the people of the Far Eastern Republic, though greatly relieved by the departure of the Japanese, still felt uneasy with large Japanese forces in South Manchuria and on the Korean frontier and felt that it would possibly be necessary, in order to protect their own weak state against this menace, to enter into the general Russian federation. He said that the question might be discussed at the forthcoming meeting of the general assembly.

The foregoing fits in with other intimations which we have had that the pretense of independence of the Far Eastern Republic may now be given over, as having served its purpose, and the Far Eastern Republic be made openly a part of the Moscow system.

I took the occasion of Mr. Skvirsky’s call to say that we had sent a new Consul (Mr. Tuck) to Vladivostok and that we hoped and expected that he would be welcome and receive the friendly cooperation of the local authorities. Mr. Skvirsky said that he did not doubt that this would be the case but that he would mention the matter in communicating with Chita.

Respectfully,

D. C. Poole