861.00/5107: Telegram
The Ambassador in Japan (Morris), temporarily at Omsk, to the Secretary of State
[Received August 24, 1:08 p.m.]
In the absence of further advices from the Department and as stated in my August 20, 3 p.m. I am preparing to leave with General Graves. Harris will forward any delayed telegrams to Irkutsk, which I hope to reach about September 1st. There is no change for the better here. In spite of many unconfirmed rumors of serious conditions in European Russia the Red Army is continuing its Siberian advance and preparations are going on for the evacuation of Omsk. Reports just received of labor troubles in the United States and England have had a depressing effect on local government circles and have tended to strengthen the views of those who [Page 419] maintain that it is hopeless to look for assistance from Great Britain and the United States and who advocate a close alliance with Germany and Japan. Recent advices indicate increase of disturbances and panic conditions at various points along the railway. The attitude of the Japanese military and the growing discourtesy of Russian officials have made the work of the Railway Service Corps less and less effective and the men are greatly discouraged. Stevens seems to have reached the limit of his patience. The weakness of the Kolchak government prevents the enforcement of any railway agreements for the present. I will confer with Stevens at Harbin and advise the Department fully. The Czechs are more restless and General Janin fears that they may suddenly decide to move eastward. In my opinion all signs point to a general breakdown which might possibly be avoided by immediate Allied recognition and support of Kolchak, enabling him to reconcile opposing elements, to continue [apparent omission] at Irkutsk; or by the prior collapse of the Bolshevik.
The Red Cross has distributed its stores accumulated here to the Czechs who are in great need, to such of the military units as still remain and to reform [refugees?] who are pouring in from all sections. The conditions here this winter will be appalling unless further aid comes from somewhere.