File No. 763.72119/837

The British Ambassador ( Spring Rice) to the Secretary of State

[A copy of the following note from the British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to the British Ambassador was left by the Ambassador with the Counselor for the Department of State.]

The British Socialists have not yet had passports granted to them to attend the conference at Stockholm, but passports to visit Petrograd have been granted to Socialists representative of all important parties, and those visiting Petrograd will doubtless pass through Stockholm on their way.

At the time when the British Government decided to refuse passports it seemed improbable that the Socialists of France would be willing to attend the conference; and at that time also affairs in Petrograd were not so largely under the control of the Council of Workmen, as they are at present.

In the meantime however it has been clearly established that great capital has been made by pacifist and enemy agents out of the fact that the British Government had refused permission to Socialists to return to Russia; and this propaganda against the British Government would inevitably be strengthened if permission were refused to British Socialists to visit Petrograd and incidentally Stockholm.

Further, the Petrograd Council of Workmen has made a direct appeal to the British Government, asking that the British Socialists might be allowed to proceed; and the Council have made a similar appeal through the public press to all Socialists. The Russian Government also have intimated to His Majesty’s Government their desire that favourable consideration might be given to the appeal of the Council; and they have given their official support to an invitation to visit Russia, sent subsequently to various labour and socialist bodies in England by the Workmen’s Council.

Russian Socialists and German Socialists of both sections are going to Stockholm, and His Majesty’s Government therefore feel that to prevent British delegates attending would do more harm than good; besides, from a democratic point of view the British case is particularly strong. There is in fact more identity in the aims of the Allies and of Russia than appears on the surface, and it is felt that our case, if strongly put, might exercise an important influence on opinion in Russia, and even in Germany too. On the other hand if the British Socialists are denied permission to attend the conference the inference will be that the British Government are afraid of the consequences of clear speech between British Socialists and their Russian allies; and people will readily believe any lies which the Germans may spread on the subject.

[Page 742]

We greatly regret that it was impossible for us to consult Mr. Lansing before reversing our previous decision, but this was inevitable as conditions in Russia have changed so rapidly. My telegram of May 27* was sent with the express object of warning Mr. Lansing that our attitude had to be modified.

[No signature indicated]
  1. Communicated to Mr. Polk in memorandum, May 28. [Footnote in the original; memorandum referred to not found in files.]