File No. 861.00/2577
The Ambassador in Russia (
Francis) to
the Secretary of State
No. 1117
Vologda,
July 4, 1918.
[Received August 26.]
Sir: I have the honor to report that I
gave a Fourth of July reception to-day which was attended by the
members of the Diplomatic Corps in Vologda and all of the attaches
of the Allied missions, and by a few Russians, the number of those
present totaling, I presume, nearly or quite one hundred.
The feeling in Vologda is very friendly towards the Embassy as it is
realized that we have added much to the reputation of the city. The
mayor, Mr. Alexandrov, … who was elected by
direct vote of the people before the October revolution,1 and the adjoint mayor. Mr.
Zubov, a Cadet, were present
notwithstanding they were removed from office last week by a
representative of the central Soviet government at Moscow named
Kedrov who has, after arresting and sending to Moscow the city duma
of Archangel, stopped at Vologda on
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his return trip and placed the local Soviet in
the full control of municipal affairs.
The Soviet government at Moscow has had a representative here in the
person of one Mr. Vosnesenski, who occupies the
position of head of the Far East Division in the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs. Vosnesenski is a shrewd Jew and is not
lacking in self-complacency or audacity. He was sent to Vologda to
ascertain whether the Allies had concluded in principle to intervene
but got no satisfaction from me and I do not think he received any
definite information from any of my colleagues.
There are many rumors current concerning the advance of the Allied
troops or Allied detachments which we are hourly endeavoring to
confirm. Authentic reports are to the effect that the landing of
Allied forces will be resisted at Archangel; they are in possession
at Murmansk however and the local Soviet there is friendly to the
Allies because it has seen finally what has been evident to Allied
representatives for some time and that is that the central Soviet
government is absolutely under the domination of Germany.
I have the honor to enclose herewith copies in English and in Russian
of a statement made by me to the Russian people to-day; this has
been published this morning in the local Vologda Listok and I have ordered 50,000 copies of the Russian
text for distribution purposes. …
I have [etc.]
[Enclosure]
Statement of the American Ambassador in
Russia (
Francis) to the Russian People, July 4,
1918
On this July 4, the natal day of the American Republic, I feel
constrained to say a few words of encouragement to the Russian
people for whom my country cherishes deep sympathy. One hundred
and forty-two years ago to-day the thirteen American Colonies
proclaimed their independence; they had a population of about
three million souls occupying a narrow strip along the Atlantic
seacoast. After a struggle of seven years their independence was
acknowledged; then followed a critical period of internal
dissension which ended in the adoption of a Constitution and the
formation of the Government which exists to-day. Americans
throughout the world celebrate this day in commemoration of the
achievements of our ancestors, to express our pride in our
institutions, to renew our pledges of fealty to the principles
on which our Government is based and to inspire our descendants
with love of country and with appreciation of the liberty they
enjoy.
France assisted us to gain our independence and we have always
felt sincerely grateful therefor; I am pleased to note that the
French Chamber of Deputies has decided to observe the day in
testimony of “indissoluble and fraternal friendship.”
The Father of our Country warned us against entangling foreign
alliances and we observed that injunction for a hundred and
forty years or as long as our self-respect, our sense of duty
and our obligation to humanity permitted.
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We were much farther removed from
Europe when our independence was achieved than we are to-day.
The application of steam as a motive power had not then been
discovered, there were no ocean steamers, no steam railroads;
there were no telegraph lines, no telephones, no machine guns,
no aeroplanes, no submarines.
Within that period our population has grown by rapid strides
until it now numbers considerably over one hundred million and
many millions of the increase have come from European lands.
We are now engaged in the greatest war of history—a world war in
fact—and so earnestly have we taken part that the spirit of our
people is aroused as never before. We have not the slightest
doubt as to the outcome. Russia is interested in this war as no
other country is interested because she will lose most in the
event of the victory of the Central Empires. My country and all
of the Allies consider the Russian people still in the struggle.
We do not observe the Brest Litovsk peace. Surely no Russian who
loves his country and looked with pride upon her greatness is
going to tamely submit to her dismemberment and humiliation.
President Wilson has said
feelingly and impressively on several occasions that he has no
intention of deserting Russia, in fact that he is resolved not
to do so. That means that we will never stand idly by and see
the Germans exploit the Russian people and appropriate to
Germany’s selfish ends the immense resources of Russia. We take
this stand not because we ourselves seek territorial
aggrandizement; not because we have commercial ambitions in
connection with Russia; nor because we wish to dictate to the
Russian people or interfere in the internal affairs of Russia.
We assume this position because we wish the Russian people to
have the right to dispose of themselves and not be compelled to
submit to the tyrannical rule of Germany, even though such a
disposition might result in a temporary peace. It is moreover my
opinion that all of the Allies agree with America on this
subject.
Therefore on this day which is celebrated in every city, in every
village, and in every hamlet in America, I appeal to the Russian
people to take courage, to organize to resist the encroachments
of Germany. The Allies are your friends and are willing and able
to assist you notwithstanding your superb army has been
demobilized. The United States which had an army of about two
hundred thousand when we entered the war less than fifteen
months ago, has already sent to France nine hundred thousand
well-armed, disciplined men and is making rapid progress toward
raising an army of five million. The strength of the American
Navy and of American shipping has been increased many fold and
is continuing to grow at a wonderful rate which exceeds all
calculations and expectations. There is not a craft on the broad
seas that dares float the German flag or the colors of one of
the Central Empires.
On May 29 last my Government authorized its representatives
throughout the world to express its sympathy with the
nationalistic aspirations of the Czecho-Slovaks and Jugoslavs
and within three days past I have received instructions to
announce that the position of the United States Government is
“that all branches of the Slav race should be completely freed
from German and Austrian rule.”
What an inspiration this should be to Russians!
I can not close this expression to the Russian people more
impressively than by quoting from a stirring address made by an
association of workmen to their fellow workmen, in which they
say:
The power of German militarism—the ruthless enemy of the
worker of all lands—has been strengthened in our name.
Alliance with it will make us slaves and kill our last
hope for the independence of Russia.
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We will never recognize this (Brest Litovsk) peace and
this alliance with Germany. We must struggle for the
independence of our country. We can not manage it alone.
In its interest we must make a military alliance with
the Allies. … We appeal to you to struggle for … the
discontinuance of civil war, for the reestablishment of
all liberties, for the armament of the whole nation, for
tearing up the Brest treaty and against an alliance with
Germany.
