861.00/5766: Telegram
The Chargé in China (Tenney) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 26, 11:25 a.m.]
[From Harris:]
483. [Kolchak] Ministry has resigned. Pepelyaev, Minister of Interior, has been charged with forming new ministry. He will attempt to fuse a ministry from representatives of the Social Revolutionaries [and] Cossacks and attempt to retain several members of present ministry.
Soukine informs me that his resignation will stand for the reason that he cannot work with Atamans of [or] the strong left Social Revolutionaries tendencies as represented in Czech contingent by Doctor Girsa. Minister of Finance Hoyer and his assistant Novitsky will also go. The elimination of these three is a distinct loss to America as they were decidedly pro-Americans. Soukine is to go abroad, probably to the United States, and Novitsky will join Denekine.
[Page 227]The Czechs in Irkutsk have issued an appeal, copy of which has been forwarded to the Department by Macgowan,24 which does not tend to improve the situation. Analyzed this appeal means three things: first, it is a decided attack on the Kolchak government; second, it is announcement of their determination to return home; and third, if they cannot get home otherwise it is clear that the left Social Revolutionary element among the Czechs headed by Doctor Girsa will even go so far as to open negotiations with the Bolsheviki in order to attain their object. This is my opinion of this appeal. It is estimated that 60 per cent of the Czech soldiers are Bolsheviki.
At the present moment everything is quiet from Vladivostok to Novo Nikolaievsk. Kolchak is in Novo Nikolaievsk with the gold. Semenoff is also quiet for the moment. While there is considerable traffic congestion in the neighborhood of Novo Nikolaievsk and Taiga, railroad is in good condition and my recent journey was rapid and without mishap. There is a great want of locomotives. Harris.