File No. 763.72119/736
The Ambassador in Russia (Francis) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 19, 5.15 p.m.]
1634. When calling Foreign Office yesterday was directed to Winter Palace where Kerensky and Minister for Foreign Affairs were conferring. Subject appeared Stockholm Socialist Conference which had caused Henderson to leave British War Committee and threatened similar fate from Thomas in France. Papers stated you had refused American Socialists passports therefor, at which Kerensky and Minister for Foreign Affairs expressed regret saying such action magnified importance of conference and would give its deliberations weight which it otherwise would not carry. Said Russia would issue passports therefor because refusal would be impolitic; that Russia looked upon conference as international meeting of party with which Provisional Government has no official connection and whose resolutions or action would by no means control coalition Ministry whose policy can not be swerved from vigorous prosecution of war; said furthermore desirable that American Socialists and Federation of Labor be represented to counteract or oppose influence [Page 754] of German Socialists which was reply to my statement that we could not guarantee that American Socialists attending would not vote with German Socialists and that our Federation of Labor with membership of over two million had declared against international Socialist conference. They did not ask me formally to request issuance of such passports but evidently expected me to communicate their views. British, Italian and French Ambassadors lunched at the Embassy yesterday to meet Billings and Thompson.1 British Ambassador had no official information but thought his Government had refused passports for conference. French Ambassador expressed himself as opposed to conference but not advised by his Government what action will be taken; Italian Ambassador likewise. Furthermore appears to me as if many representative Socialists, who are Americans first, have left the party and that internationalist sentiment dominates that organization in America. Is such the case? Date of conference not fixed. Have you announced decision as reported? In my judgment we should refuse passports if England and France do or if England alone does.
Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Finance tell me conditions at front improving. Kornilov here. Endeavoring to meet him.
Later. Since above was written have read Minister for Foreign Affairs’ statement in morning press. He assumes substantially position as outlined above concerning Stockholm conference. British Ambassador interviewed on the same subject and states labor vote on attending conference represents only one element of English people and his Government unlikely be influenced thereby if other elements equally important fail to alter. If America, England and France not represented, conference will be ineffective and probably abandoned.
- Dr. Frank Billings and William B. Thompson, of the American Red Cross Mission to Russia, 1917.↩