861.00/4694: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Commission to Negotiate Peace
2315. For the Secretary of State and McCormick:
Have suggested to Russian Chargé d’Affaires that he ascertain from Kolchak just what supplies and support are needed and what can best be furnished by each of the Powers who have undertaken to support him. The telegram sent you today from Mr. J. F. Stevens3 discloses a very serious situation regarding the Czech army. Cannot some measures be formulated, with the assistance of the Russian Conference at Paris or through the representatives of the Allies at Omsk, for the early repatriation of the Czechs? Whatever is done it seems to us vital that the support which is to be given to Kolchak should be formulated now and given promptly.
One of the difficulties in Siberia seems to be that of morale among the Czech and Russian troops. Some kind of tangible statement of the exact support to be given and the amount of it, financial, military and economic, followed by prompt and direct action, would be very helpful. There is great difficulty in formulating any such concrete proposition in correspondence from here. As the heads [Page 380] of Governments concerned are now in Paris it occurs to me they may be already taking steps in Paris in the directions I have indicated. The situation is so important that I would very much appreciate if you would let me know just what is being done to meet it.