861.00/5288: Telegram

The Ambassador in Great Britain (Davis) to the Secretary of State

3130. [For] Winslow.74

Churchill75 calls on me and shows me dispatch addressed to himself by Admiral Kolchak dated 17th in which after declaring the [Page 436] unshaken purpose of himself and his troops, Kolchak announces decree summoning legislative assembly and says “our external relations remain extremely difficult and have become additionally complicated in the last few days through a misunderstanding that has arisen between certain powers in the Far East”. He complains of Allied hesitation in arriving at plan for military financial and economic assistance and delay in dealing with question of international status of Russian Government and invokes British aid toward an early decision. Churchill says British Government is definitely withdrawing from all theaters in Russia save that of Denikin and is concentrating its efforts in aiding him. He expects to induce Cabinet at once to authorize a further grant to Denikin of 14,000,000 pounds out of military supplies on hand and is hopeful of Denikin’s ultimate success. He inquired whether it will not be possible for us to extend immediate aid to Denikin [Kolchak?] in winter clothing for his troops and other supplies fearing that otherwise he may collapse and chaos reign in Siberia outside of region controlled by Semenoff or Japanese. I gave him of course no assurances but transmit his views. Repeated American Mission, Paris.

Davis
  1. L. Lanier Winslow in the Office of the Counselor of the Department of State.
  2. Winston Churchill, British Secretary of State for War.