File No. 861.00/954
The Consul at Vladivostok (Caldwell) to the Secretary of State
[Telegram]
Vladivostok, January 13, 1918, 8 p.m.
[Received January 15.]
[Received January 15.]
Referring to your telegram January 8, 7 p.m.
- 1.
- This city controlled by provincial Zemstvo Committee working through machinery and minor officials installed before revolution; actual control, however, is in hands of Council Soldiers-Workmen’s Deputies who have agreed to work with Zemstvo since latter accepted soldiers’ delegate.
- 2.
- Zemstvo Committee control Amur Province refusing admit soldiers’ delegate.
- 3.
- December 24, district general commissioner appointed by Provisional Government, seeing he could not retain office much longer, called a meeting of representatives of Zemstvo of district and organized district Zemstvo Administrative Committee of six to which he turned over his powers; this committee contains one member [Page 26] from each province and one from each Cossacks’ administration in this district. District capital temporarily removed to Blagoveshchensk to avoid conflict with soldiers at Khabarovsk. Each province has provincial Zemstvo Committee, that for Maritime Province sitting at Vladivostok and assuming authority turned over by provincial commissioner appointed by Provisional Government.
- 4.
- Zemstvo Committee do not recognize authority Petrograd Bolsheviks. Soldiers’ councils recognize their authority and have endeavored execute their orders but have been deterred from executing most radical orders by elements which pointed out serious consequences thereof, possible violation Japanese rights and foreign intervention being always in mind.
- 5.
- In Vladivostok soldiers and sailors support primarily their council which now working with Zemstvo Committee. In Khabarovsk they refuse support Zemstvo and have proposed committee of six soldiers, six workmen and six peasants. Amur soldiers have decided to support Zemstvo.
- 6.
- Port is open and likely remain so. Trouble with ice-breaker crews does not now seem so likely unless funds for wages become exhausted. Banks here only paying 250 rubles weekly per person claiming even this soon will be impossible unless money received from Petrograd or issued here.
- 7.
- Authorities, soldiers arid sailors [display] no hostility toward foreigners, being especially friendly toward Americans. The Japanese are mistrusted and feared. Only danger to the foreigners due to lack of any strong authority able furnish protection in case of such disorder as occurred in Irkutsk and which visit of foreign cruisers makes unlikely.
- 8.
- There are about 15,000 soldiers and 700 sailors in Vladivostok, and 300 sailors in Khabarovsk, total 35,000 [sic] troops in province.
- 9.
- Stevens’s party can land with entire safety at any time. Departure for Japan was not due to hostility but as explained my telegram January 9, 10 p.m.,1 because work impossible then. Also Thomas had provisions for few days only and impossible replenish here, city being short account of no transportation. Undesirable interpreters could not well be sent back if corps landed because Soldiers-Workmen’s Council were clamoring for their release from ship even when entire corps were refused shore leave claiming we were abusing Russian citizens. Undesirable interpreters must be discharged in Japan before corps returns. Three months required complete [locomotive] shops and work stopped awaiting arrival Jaspe dredgers who should come immediately. Remainder of corps [Page 27] may be able begin work within a few weeks if situation at trouble centers along line continues to improve and if money for wages railway and port employees found by Russia or Allies.
No freight left here past week because of block near Omsk.
Caldwell