Telegram

Title

Telegram

Creator

British Consul at Vladivostok

Identifier

WWP22442

Date

1918 July 14

Source

Library of Congress, Woodrow Wilson Papers, 1786-1957

Text

TELEGRAM FROM THE BRITISH CONSUL AT VLADIVOSTOK DATED JULY 14, 1918.

Spacek (?) and Girsa send the following for Professor Mazaryk:
Message begins:We have received your message of June 28th and sent the following.

We were permitted by the Central Bolshevist Government to leave Russia on the terms prescribed in the agreement of March 26th between the Government of the Peoples Commission and our Army.

We have carried out faithfully and loyally all conditions which this Treaty laid upon us and we have never been involved in Russian domestic politics. The best proof of this is the fact that 13,000 of our men have, notwithstanding the difficulties placed in their way by the Bolshevist local authorities, made a journey throughout the whole of Russia without disputes and that for the last two months they have been in Vladivostok and maintained correct and loyal relations with the local authorities in this city. As long as the Bolshevist Government remained in Russian control this state of things was maintained, but a complete change occurred as soon as the control of the Central Siberian Government was obtained by Magyars and Germans, who were accepted by the Bolshevist authorities, under the guise of Communists and Internationalists, in the Red Army and also even in the Administration of which they now form the nucleus.Trotsky, in obedience to the German ultimatum, gave orders that our Officers should be outlawed, our troops disarmed, and our men sent to Internment Camps as prisoners under strict control. In consequence of these orders simultaneous attacks were made by Germans and Magyars on our troops along the Line between Penza and Irkutsk. Our Treaty with the Bolshevists, by which we were promised free departure from the country, was treacherously violated by Trotsky's orders and the Germans secured control of the Central Siberian Government.

Being ambushed by the Magyars and Germans our forces were compelled to accept combat in self defence, the result being that we now have in our hands the whole Siberian Railway from Irkutsk to Penza. The Bolshevist Government has everywhere on this line been expelled, without any cooperation on the part of our troops, by the Russian Menshevists and Revolutionary Socialists of the Right. The Bolshevist Central Government of Siberia is hurriedly organizing German and Hungarian prisoners against us. Our troops are welcomed and supported heartily by the Russian people.

In Vladivostok our forces remained for two months completely loyal to the local Bolshevist authorities. When, however, it was learnt that treacherous attacks had been made on our men west of Irkutsk, when we heard of the arrests in Moscow of Maxa, Marcovitch and Janic by the Bolshevists and when it was clear that preparation had been made in Vladivostok against us it appeared to us that we were in duty bound to go to the help of our fellow countrymen and to join them. With this object Vladivostok was occupied by us on June 29th. A Government opposed to the Bolshevists was immediately formed, and we are now endeavoring to arrange for an advance on Irkutsk by the Chinese Eastern Railway.

In our fighting here most of our opponents have been Magyars and Germans, proof of this being furnished by prisoners and by dead bodies. The Bolshevists have completely lost their popularity with the majority of the Russian people and, in places where they still retain power, this is only with the help of enemy prisoners who hold control of everything by force. We do not mix in any way in Russian domestic affairs, and we find that this secures us the sympathy of the people. Everywhere. We have also kept in close touch with the representatives of the Allies and all our measures are taken with their knowledge and concurrence. All the Allied representatives are in sympathy with us and afford us all the assistance they can, supplying us with medical assistance, arms and ammunition, and guarding our rear. In our opinion it is most desirable and also possible to reconstitute a Russian-German front in the East, but we feel certain that a combined and single minded military effort by the Allied Powers is essential to effect this. We also feel certain that an Army capable of fighting the Germans cannot be raised by Russia herself in the immediate future. The Army must come from outside to begin with.

If a new German-Russian front is established by the Allies we ask for instructions as to whether we should leave for France or whether we should stay here to fight in Russia by the side of the Allies and of Russia.

The health and spirit of our troops are excellent. General Diterichs is in command of the detachment of (?) 14,000 and Captain Gaida of the (?) other portion of 35,000.

Message ends.

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http://resources.presidentwilson.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/WWI1087A.pdf

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Citation

British Consul at Vladivostok, “Telegram,” 1918 July 14, WWP22442, World War I Letters, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.