File No. 861.00/1869
The Consul at Moscow (Poole) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 26, 7.13 p.m.]
539. Commercial Attaché Huntington reports as follows concerning conditions in Siberia:
Machinery of government in hands of Bolsheviks whose present real power very slight, consisting disaffected war prisoners mostly Austrians, Hungarians, and Slavs and paid soldiers otherwise out of work. Brains furnished by Jews of small-tradesmen mentality. Central government at Irkutsk has little authority, is ineffective, farcical, rough and violent as becomes pioneer country lacking even such proportion of idealism as seen amongst Bolsheviks in cultivated centers like Petrograd, Moscow.
This government now failing due to economic disaster and anarchism which works by penetration from within and occasional attempts at force from without. Hazy Bolshevik mentality resists this movement.
Normal life, that is, life in towns strung along Trans-Siberian Railroad, is paralyzed. Well-to-do people consistently persecuted, their property confiscated, businesses “nationalized” thus cutting off income. Live in constant fear homes will be requisitioned. Many have left, especially women and children. Many stores closed; remainder trying sell out motley collection old goods. No new goods coming in. Retail trade declined eastern Siberia, recently greatly diminished by departure upon orders their Governments all Chinese and Japanese merchants. Freight requisitioned en route and sold by “commercial food supply departments” of local Soviets. Unemployment [and] food scarcity [prevail] in Irkutsk with no relief from Western Siberia. Schools overcrowded, teachers non-Bolshevik apathetic, lackadaisical, frequently absent and late.
Western third Siberia tremendous grain producer but supply to towns insufficient. Peasants refuse bring grain and meat to market because Bolshevik requisition at inadequate prices and because no useful articles can be had in exchange. Sowing being limited as in Great Russia.
Railway continues to expedite passenger trains safely at moderate rate of speed. Without the good habits and discipline of railway, post, and telegraph employees, most of whom non-Bolshevik and constantly hampered in duties by ignorant commissaries, Russia as nation unit would cease to exist. Practically no freight movement. One sees good new engines every station lying on, side track out of service for repairs.
[Page 165]Every class in Siberia except small minority of Bolsheviks desires friendly intervention and construction aid an outside power. Population distrusts Japanese but will accept them if no one else. Capitalists, attorneys, and post and telegraph employees visited consul in Irkutsk and testified their desire order would be living passivity and recent blow cannot rise without nucleus [sic]. Universal request is for Allied intervention with American participation which they feel guarantees motives.