File No. 861.00/1312
The Consul General at Moscow ( Summers) to the Secretary of State 1
[Received March 18, 2.30 a.m.]
257. In contradiction to reports which might reach Department regarding representative character of Congress of Soviets I am informed by prominent socialist labor [leader] and conservative leaders that the twelve hundred delegates composing the Congress represent an infinitely small proportion of the people of Russia; that the delegates were chosen by Bolshevik leaders [regardless] of the wishes of people; that the vast [masses] of the peasants are violently opposed to the government of the Soviets; that all the Social Revolutionary Party, would be overvalued [which prevailed] in the last elections for the Constituent Assembly, do not recognize the present government and that all the intelligent classes of Russia are against the present régime not [sic] force. I am also assured that great dissension exists amongst the Bolsheviki themselves and that it is merely a question of time when they must give up their power. They have stopped the sale all over Russia of the socialist and conservative newspapers allowing opinions their own and anarchist literature to reach the people who are becoming greatly exercised. At works of Chjifen factory only few hundred men out of four thousand consented to join the Red Guard. At International Harvester Works only fifty out of four thousand workmen volunteered to serve. If there is resistance to Germany it must come from a union of parties which will appeal to all classes of Russian people. The present régime of intolerance and lawlessness cannot count upon the vast majority of the people.
- Sent via the Consulate at Vladivostok.↩