File No. 861.00/3437
The Consul General at Irkutsk (Harris) to the Secretary of State1
[Received December 14, 8.15 p.m.]
229. Situation as regarding discontent of Czech soldiers is improving. The impression is gaining ground with them that they should do the sensible thing just at this time and remain where they are, thus giving backbone to the Russian offensive on the Perm front. The report which got abroad that the Czechs would arrange with the Bolsheviks for a passage through Russia to Bohemia is nonsense. No Czech leaders think such a thing. The offensive against Perm is a Russian one and Russian troops are now within 100 miles of that city. With the Allies approaching, entire aspect of situation in western Siberia is changing for better. Russian troops are still 65 miles west of Ufa and when Perm is captured the situation on Ufa front will materially improve and it is probable that an offensive on Samara may be expected in a few weeks.
Reception of Stefanik in Ekaterinburg while not specially enthusiastic, yet his presence will have wholesome effect on Czech troops.
With all due regards for what Czechs have accomplished in Russia, yet they are just at this moment behaving somewhat like pet and pampered child. As the Russians grow stronger they naturally assert themselves more than any other time and this tends to create [Page 459] friction between Czechs and Russians although not dangerously so. The moving spirit among Czechs at present is to get back to Bohemia but have no clear conception how this may be accomplished. Stefanik and Pavlu, however, wish to act in close harmony with the wishes of Allies and this phase of situation gives us no concern as I believe soldiers are responsible. Unfortunately Social Revolutionary ideas have entered Czech ranks and recently regiments (refused?) to obey orders. Such behavior naturally undermines all discipline. It must also be said that Czech National Council, Ekaterinburg, is saturated with the Social Revolutionary ideas.
In my judgment, position of Czechs was never better. With what they have accomplished, their losses have been very small. From June 1 to November 15, the total number of Czech troops engaged in campaign amount to 49,709 soldiers and 1,600 officers. The actual battling forces have been 23,499. The actual losses amount to killed only 1,139; died of wounds 220; wounded 3,888; missing 362; [seriously] ill 3,161. In addition 64 officers were killed. Total losses only 8,787. These statistics have been prepared by Czech General Staff and are reliable. They definitely explode the idea of abnormal losses. Reports of there being fifteen and twenty thousand killed have been spread broadcast in order to obtain sympathy and Allied help. It has not been done exactly intentionally in order deceive but nothing on the other hand has been done to contradict such exaggerated reports. Czech troops everywhere in [Russia] to-day better fed and clothed than Russian troops. [In whatever] there is best to be obtained in [Siberia], Czechs come first [unintelligible groups]. I am not criticizing this state of affairs but simply mention it as a fact. From the viewpoint of what they have accomplished against Bolshevism they certainly deserve every consideration but I also think the time has definitely come but [when] substantial assistance and moral support should be given to the Russian in the same spirit, sympathy and admiration as has been manifested towards the Czech. Being in very close touch with the situation I am now more hopeful than at any time past.
The better elements in Russia are very slowly [omission] to the monarchist and are reaching out for control. Our Government can assist by the application of cautious diplomacy in slowly eliminating baneful Japanese influence, [in] which every Russian believes United States secretly connives, [tending] to keep the [different] parties in [Siberia] from uniting. Department’s splendid assistance can be given by Red Cross and Y.M.C.A. to Russian soldiers. Every effort must be made to stamp out Bolshevik and Social Revolutionary [elements]. There is no difference between radical Social Revolutionary and Bolshevik in principle. There is no difference [Page 460] between Chernov and Lenin and Trotsky. They are both destructive, inverted autocracies, incomparably worse than what the blackest forces of reaction might inaugurate were they to seize this power. The world has just freed itself from the aspirations of Hohenzollern tyranny but an [absence] of law and order still [prevails] in Russia which may become dangerous to other countries unless summarily dealt with now.
- Sent via the Legation in China.↩