File No. 861.00/862
The Ambassador in Russia ( Francis) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 26, 2.10 a.m.]
2134. Trotsky speech expurgated printed in bulletin to-day mentions no Ambassadors but confined to peace and takes position that if German terms not acceptable to Soviet government will be referred to constituent body and if approved by it Bolshevik government will say:
Find yourselves another party which will sign the communications but we Bolsheviki, and I hope the left Social Revolutionists, will summon all to a sacred war [against] the militarists of all countries.
Also says:
If voice of laboring class of Germany does not awake and show that powerful influence which must play the decisive part peace will be impossible.
Ends with statement:
But if we, owing to the economic disruptions, cannot fight, if we shall be forced to abandon the struggle for our ideals, then shall say to our brothers abroad that the proletariat struggle is not ended, that it is only put off as it happened in 1905 when we being defeated by the Tsar did not end the fight against Tsarism but only postponed it.
This appears to me an adroit attempt to prepare Russia for acceptance of Germany’s terms after which Bolsheviks will appeal to socialists of England, France, Italy, and America to refuse to fight longer and thus be playing into Germany’s hands. They have already appointed delegations to visit England and France for such purpose and no doubt will for America.