File No. 861.00/716
The Ambassador in Russia ( Francis ) to the Secretary of State 1
[Received November 24, 6.10 p.m.]
2007. At a meeting of Allied chiefs this afternoon agreement was unanimous and emphatic that no notice should be taken of note from Foreign Office in my 2006. Note had been received by British, American, French and Italian Embassies and by Belgian and Serbian Legations only. Japanese and Brazilian Embassies and Rumanian, Portuguese, Chinese, Greek and Siamese Legations had not received the note but were represented at conference.
Conclusion without dissent was that each chief when asked by the [correspondents] should reply truly whether note received and he make whatever additional statement he chose. I have told Associated [Press] and World representatives that note received and forwarded Department for its information and shall make same reply to Russian press if asked.
Agreed furthermore that each chief should request his Government not to direct him to make reply to communication, as pretended government established by force and not recognized by Russian people.
Learned at conference British, French and Italian Ambassadors representing governments of London agreement, with the approval of their [governments, instructed] military attachés at headquarters to protest against armistice as violating that agreement. Shall wire Major Kerth 2 at headquarters to join in protest. Heard since conference that Dukhonin, acting generalissimo, replied refusing to obey order and stating that he commanded army to resist invader whereupon he was removed and Krylenko, commissary of Lenin government, appointed.
8 p.m. Rumanian Minister just received telegrams his military attaché at north front that famine has begun and army desperate; also telegram from his military attaché at west front that Dietrichs who is next in command to Dukhonin says Lenin working for Germany whose plan is to encourage civil strife in Russia so that German troops will be called to restore order and then separate peace negotiated on terms favorable to Germany and disastrous to Russia. This not improbable. Rada of Ukraine has ordered all Ukraine needed soldiers to return home and Cossacks told by army committee to [Page 246] return to their country. Chernov, Tseretelli and Avksentiev reported at Stavka organizing another government with Chernov as president.