File No. 861.00/721
The Ambassador in Russia ( Francis) to the Secretary of State 1
[Received November 27, 3 a.m.]
2027. No developments. Elections for Constituent Assembly beginning Petrograd to-day, continuing three days. Assembly called for November 29 but Moscow elections reported postponed one week and Assembly if meets probably adjourn ten days and trouble expected here because judges of election appointed by Kerensky claiming jurisdictions opposite those Lenin selects.
Assembly is authority to which all Russia has been looking since revolution began and is empowered to determine form of government without referring same back to people for confirmation. Assembly likely to be Bolshevik in sentiment but if so develops, will still have a semblance of representing the people and as every such organization is sole judge of election and qualification of its members can only be overturned by revolution. If courts now exist here, of which no evidence apparent, their decrees if observed will be dictated by force.
[Page 268]Have thought of proposing to my colleagues here that we request conference with committee appointed by Assembly on state of the nation or perhaps request that committee be appointed to confer on that subject with chiefs of Allied missions.
- Sent via the Legation in Sweden (No. 1077).↩