File No. 861.00/797
The Ambassador in Great Britain ( Page) to the Secretary of State
[Received 8.45 p.m.]
7934. Your 6009, December 11, 3 p.m. Mr. Balfour informs me that his Government will not recognize the Lenin so-called government, certainly not until it can show some sort of authority from the people. There are, moreover, at present other difficulties in the way of recognition; the Ukraine, the Cossacks, and other peoples in different parts of the Russian Empire, may possibly show opposition to Lenin and his program dealing with Germany. If these should remain anti-German they would deserve help if it could be given to them. Balfour has instructed his Ambassador in Petrograd to have no dealings with any of the present factions until events warrant a change of his present views. The whole attitude of the British Government toward Russia is now under Cabinet discussion and Balfour promises further information as fast as conclusions are reached.