861.24/116: Telegram
The Consul at Vladivostok (Caldwell) to the Acting Secretary of State
[Received January 19, 3 p.m.]
8. War supplies are arriving here for Czecho-Slovaks in such quantity that they certainly will not use them in Russia as they are no longer fighting on large scale and may soon cease all war operations in Russia and return home, in which case they would not be able to take war supplies with them. It is very doubtful whether Czecho-Slovaks will ever move some of their war supplies from here. Result will be that some Russian aristocratic force will ultimately receive large part these supplies; and this condition is brought to Department’s attention because I am not certain whether such a final disposition of supplies would be regarded favorably by the Department and because any unnecessary supplies which are allowed to lie here add to congestion of this port which is again becoming bad owing to inability of railroad to move freight and to occupation of warehouses and storage spaces by the various Allied military forces. Russian Volunteer Fleet state they contemplate stopping their regular service to Japan and Shanghai because there is no place here to deposit cargo and they cannot afford to run for passengers only. It would be helpful if we could be informed of source from which Czecho-Slovaks obtained money for purchase these supplies. It is reported that the President made Czecho-Slovaks a gift of $5,000,000 from his special fund and that Crimea [Czechs?] received loan of $7,000,000 from the United States. Can I be authorized to deny or confirm either report?