File No. 861.00/1574
The Consul at Moscow (Poole) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 10, 12.50 p.m.]
329. Riggs, assistant military attaché asks transmission following Military Information Section, War Department:
Great concern here over landing at Vladivostok. I had conversation with Trotsky this morning. He is waiting for a confidential statement from the Allies which will clarify aims of Japanese in Vladivostok. He professes belief that the Japanese are in secret accord with Germany. I suggested participation American troops and British subjects from China. He said Ministry [announcement] should be included in Allied statement. Therefore, I can recommend: (1) Immediate formulation of limits of Allied intervention, if such has been decided upon in Siberia, to be transmitted Bolshevik officials through Holbrook; (2) that intervention be made Allied instead of Japanese; (3) that one division of United States troops in [Page 105] Pacific be warned for service [sic]; (4) that Allies guarantee limits resulting (?) territorial annexations. Am sending you direct as well as to Ruggles to save time.
For Department of State only: By [in] transmission the above, desire to make the following comments: (1) Concern over landing at Vladivostok is strictly limited to Bolshevik circles; (2) Trotsky’s intimation that Japan is in secret agreement with Germany accords with his apparent policy to embroil Japan and the United States (see Summers’s 278, March 20, noon,1 and others); (3) strongly second recommendation that forces be Allied instead of Japanese only; (4) respecting Riggs’s point (1) and (4): while recognizing the principle [of] desirableness of securing if possible concurrence of de facto government in Allied action I wish to point out (1) that the central Bolshevik authorities have only limited control over Siberian Soviets; and (2) that reserve is advisable in entering engagements of any kind with a government whose continuance in power is becoming daily more uncertain.