861.77/3668: Telegram
The Consul at Harbin (Hanson) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 9—6:40 a.m.]
Since the Bolsheviks took over Chinese Eastern Railway, conservative Russians in the railway zone have been terror stricken. On October 3rd General Manager Ostroumoff, Chief of the Land Department Gondatti, and Chief of the Economic Bureau Mikhailoff were arrested by Chinese police, acting under orders from Mukden, without charges being preferred, placed in solitary confinement, treated like desperate criminals and not permitted to consult with the counsel or to see their wives. Arrests were made before they were able legally to transfer their offices to their Soviet successors. On October 6th Kirin provincial authorities prohibited departure of Russians from Harbin. On October 7th a merchant, Gavriloff, and the chief bookkeeper of the railway were arrested without charges made and placed in prison. As the first three mentioned worked with and under Inter-Allied Technical Board, as the first two were given American, British, French and Japanese diplomatic support and encouragement in their efforts to resist Chinese encroachments in the land department question, and as I suspect that certain Chinese [Page 512] authorities with Bolshevik approval are attempting to persecute them for attempting to preserve the interests of the railway in accordance with the resolutions of the Washington Conference, it is my opinion that the matter of these outrageous arrests and the conduct of these railway officials while in charge of railway administration should be investigated immediately by an international commission, if possible. If not possible, then foreign consular officers should be present at the trials of the accused.
This matter is urgent as Ostroumoff who has long been in ill health and suffering from a severe strain may become seriously if not fatally ill in the Chinese prison. It is suggested that pressure be brought upon Chang Tso-lin to have the prisoners moved to Mukden because it is feared they may at any moment be handed over by the local authorities, willing or unwilling, to the Bolshevists for transportation to and punishment in Siberia.
The Department might suggest to the Associated Press or other news agency that it detail to Harbin a special correspondent in order to report regarding Bolshevik activities in North Manchuria and on the Chinese Eastern Railway, arrests of foreigners by Chinese military and police and trials of foreigners by Chinese courts. Such reports would enlighten the American public in regard to communism and the necessity of retaining extraterritorial rights in China.
Informed the Legation.