File No. 763.72/4530
The Russian Chargé (
Onou) to the
Secretary of State
No. 300
Washington,
April 21, 1917.
Mr. Secretary of State: I have the honour,
by instruction of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, to transmit to
Your Excellency herewith the text of a communication addressed to
the Government of the United States on behalf of the Russian
Government. This communication, signed by Messrs. Goutchkow, Markow
and Lwoff, Minister President, has reference to the pressing needs
of the naval defence of the Arctic coast of Russia.
Accept [etc.]
[Page 33]
[Enclosure]
The Russian
Government to the Government of
the United States
Naval Defence of the Arctic Coast of
Russia
Owing to the fact that the Russian Fleet is locked in closed seas
the defence of the Arctic coast of Russia represents a most
difficult task now aggravated by the presence of enemy
submarines in these waters and the Russian Government is in
great need of patrol and despatch vessels in order to cope with
this menace. Unfortunately the many restrictions made by the
neutrals and the financial side of the question made the
acquisition of ships and arming themi abroad a very difficult
problem—in fact a problem which we did not manage to solve. Now
that the United States have in every way joined the efforts of
the Allies, the Russian Government is most hopeful that they
will come to assist us in this matter which is one of the most
pressing and vital nature for the Allied cause.
Our immediate needs are:
- 1.
- There are 3 ships already negotiated for and actually
in American waters which it is most important to have
armed and fitted out for service in Arctic waters as
soon as possible. Besides we require 7 armed patrol
vessels—or seagoing yachts—7 armed transports of
1,000–2,000 tons capacity, and 20 armed trawlers, these
latter to arrive in our Arctic waters as soon as
possible. Patrol vessels are in fact required at once
and the remainder not later than the opening of the
navigation in the White Sea …,1 and May, N.S.
- 2.
- For the moment we have not got a single destroyer in
the north. Two ships of that class which rendered most
important services last winter are actually undergoing a
refitting and will not be ready for some time and 4 more
destroyers under way to the Arctic Ocean are actually
crossing the Indian Ocean. Until these arrive we are
totally lacking in efficient weapons against submarines
and if the United States could see their way to send us
at once say 4 destroyers joined by an equal number of
armed patrol vessels such assistance would be priceless.
The Arctic route is the only one opened for supply ships
to European Russia and the security of this route is of
an enormous importance to the Allies’ cause.
The Russian Government therefore hopes that you will rightly
appreciate the situation and that the United States will not
fail to join their forces to those of the Allies and bring us an
efficient help in meeting the above requirements.
-
Goutchkow
-
Markow
-
Lwoff, Minister President
