File No. 861.00/1047
The Ambassador in Russia ( Francis) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 4, 1.21 p.m.]
2303. No new developments. Trotsky at Brest where negotiations resumed to-day. Reported that he playing for time in the hope of starting social revolution in Central empires. Germany can dictate separate peace if she desires as Soviet admits inability to offer resistance. Meantime food conditions growing rapidly worse. Red Guard sailors, some soldiers, forcibly appropriating food whenever desired. Am maintaining a guard six Americans who sleep and eat in the Embassy; be prepared for continual increase of draft on European war expense appropriation.