File No. 861.00/1986
The Commissar for Foreign Affairs of the Central Siberian Soviet Government (Geyzman) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 9, 1918, 11.41 p.m.]
Official communication Centro-Sibir. Having received orders from Moscow, end March, to pass Czecho-Slovak Army through Vladivostok aboard [ships], the supreme Siberian power, Centro-Sibir, took measures to expedite furtherance of [above-]mentioned army to east, but to [its] regret, due to catastrophic conditions of transport and supplies, we could not pass them so fast as we wanted. At the beginning of May, when Siberian Railroad communication was threatened by Semenov, we were compelled to stop the passing of Czecho-Slovaks. This circumstance was misinterpreted by Czechoslovaks and used by reactionary elements as agitation against present Russian Government. They thought and were told that Russia [Page 197] purposely keeps them back. Saturday, May 25, Centro-Sibir informed, from Novo Nikolaevsk to Nizhneudinsk two or three railroad stations are captured and held by armed force of Czechoslovaks. Being unable to explain such occurrence, we took measures to safeguard railroad from being further captured by them. On May 27 a Czecho-Slovak echelon arrived in Irkutsk and, due to misunderstanding or provocation, a conflict between sides occurred; human blood was shed for neither reason nor purpose, but at the arrival of government representative the conflict was very soon settled to satisfaction and conviction of both sides that there were no reasons for quarrel between Soviet republic and Czecho-Slovak Army. The same happened with other two echelons; [at] Innokentevskaya either [both] sides concluded treaty to mutual satisfaction. Nevertheless, situation with echelons located west of Irkutsk at Nizhneudinsk, Mariinsk, and Novo Nikolaevsk is not settled yet. Soviet republic, together with American Consulate, are doing everything to settle it without bloodshed.
Majority echelons that succeeded in reaching Vladivostok, together with their National Council and chief commanders, are exceedingly dissatisfied with the situation and categorically ordered their fellow countrymen located in the west to submit to Soviets and instantly proceed east. We reached an armistice up to 10th June, and Centro-Sibir representatives, with American mission headed by Emerson, hope to end issue, arrange the conflict peacefully. We declare: the Russian Soviet republic was respecting the ideas of Czechoslovaks as an oppressed nation, has neither reason to detain them nor cause of conflict. We do all in our power to find amicable mutual understanding, and we are certain that if there are not hidden motives and aforethought [sic] reasons on the side of the Czechoslovaks, we will settle it peacefully. Czecho-Slovaks will be able without any obstacles and as quick as possible follow to the east, and our mutual normal relations will be restored.