861.00/4616: Telegram
The Minister in China (Reinsch) to the Acting Secretary of State
[Received June 3, 1919, 2:45 a.m.]
Following from [Harris at] Omsk.
“244. May 31, 10 a.m. Military situation on Perm and Ufa front quiet and stationary. A quarrel has broken out between Gaida and Lebedev, chief of staff, and Kolchak left suddenly last night for Perm front in order to settle this quarrel.
The question of recognition is keeping spirit of people here in high state of expectancy. If recognition should not be forthcoming I trust America will not get the blame. Opinion concerning us is now changing and a set-back would be fatal.
Kolchak intends issuing following proclamation very soon:
Citizens of Russia! Our army, which I lead, continuing its struggle for the freedom of Russia, each day draws nearer to the desired end.
At this fateful hour I solemnly decree ceaseless war, not with the Russian people, but only with the criminal and lawless organizations of the Bolsheviks. And my object is neither persecution nor vengeance; those who have perpetrated no atrocity and have committed no crime have nothing to fear from me; and all who, against their will, have been forced to take part in the struggle on the side of the Bolsheviki, will receive a full pardon and amnesty from the Government.
I accepted office only in order to establish order, liberty, and justice, and to give food and personal safety to the harassed and starving people of Russia. As our victorious armies advance I direct that courts of justice shall be opened, that the law shall be enforced, and that local administration shall begin to function. I stand for the protection of the law-abiding and the punishment of the law-breaker with equal justice for all.
The office which I hold is a heavy burden and I have no intention of retaining office for a single day longer than the interests of the country absolutely demand. After crushing Bolshevism my first call will be to call a general election of the whole people for a Constituent Assembly. A commission is at this moment engaged in the preliminary work of outlining a law under which this election shall be held. This election shall be a general election and shall be conducted on the basis of universal suffrage.
[Page 372]To the Constituent Assembly which will result from this election, I shall hand over all of my power in order that it may decide fully and freely, without outside interference, the future form of government of the Russian state.
For the current year I have already signed a law which guarantees to the workers and tillers of the soil the produce of the fields which they sow and cultivate.
Further I desire to assist the small peasant land holders by transferring to them the lands of the large land owners, who in their turn, will receive a just compensation. I am absolutely convinced Russia will be united, prosperous, and strong, only when the many millions of her peasantry have a proper share in the ownership of the land.
I am equally convinced that the law must provide protection and assistance for the workmen in order to organize themselves on lines similar to those adopted in the democracies of the west. A special labor department of my government is preparing data for future legislation on this subject.
The people of Russia are reminded that the day of our victory is approaching, and with it, the final expulsion of the Bolsheviki and the end of internal strife, when the free citizens of Russia may resume their peaceful occupation.
Harris [”]