761.9315 Manchuria/139: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Steinhardt) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 10—3:55 p.m.]
437, Following from Military Attaché60 for War Department:
It has been learned from no less than three reliable sources that there has been a considerable movement of military supplies and some troops to the Far East. It is believed that these troops are going to the trans-Baikal area and are probably being sent in connection with the recent border disturbances around Lake Buir.61 This movement has been going on for probably 6 weeks or 2 months. Reports of routes of train movements would appear to indicate that the majority of the troops being moved are coming from the Ural military district and probably from the southern and southeastern military districts of European Russia. It is not believed that any considerable number of troops have been moved from the military districts of the western frontier although the troops moved to the east would have formed a general reserve for the western forces in the event of Soviet participation in a major war in Europe. End section for War Department.
Potemkin62 yesterday admitted to me the continuation of fighting on the Manchurian-Mongolian border. There is up to the present no evidence to indicate that the Soviet Government desires to extend the sphere of conflict. Although in so far as can be ascertained no troops have been moved from the Soviet forces on the western frontier, nevertheless the transfer of troops from European Russia at the present time is significant.