125. 977/9: Telegram
The Chargé in Japan (Wilson) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 3—1:45 a.m.]
31. See Vladivostok consul’s telegram 12, March 26. I received today from Consul Tuck a copy of his despatch of March 27 to the Department24 in which he states conditions and expresses the conclusion that he must recommend the closing of the consulate prior to the expiration of the three months and that he and the Americans on his staff report to the Embassy at Tokyo. Tuck also writes that the British consul believes that despite the British-Soviet trade [Page 795] agreement there is little hope that he will remain. The British consul considers that he is without power to protect British interests and said that his instructions were to leave whenever it seemed to him necessary to do so.
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The letter of March 24 from the bureau of foreign affairs,24a which Tuck refers to in his telegram of March 26, 1 p.m., and encloses with his March 27 despatch, shows clearly that it is impossible for Tuck to render even informal aid to Americans because of the attitude of the Russian authorities. Under the deplorable conditions described by Tuck trade itself is impossible. In view of the foregoing it is my opinion that the retention of the consul at Vladivostok is not only useless but also is incompatible with our country’s dignity.