Office of the Historian

File No. 861.00/2317

The Consul at Moscow ( Poole) to the Secretary of State 1

[Telegram]
Moscow, July 20, 1918, 5 p.m.
[Received July 23, 1.18 a.m.]

24. Continuance my No. 20 [21?] of yesterday [concerning Ambassadors’] leaving Vologda for Moscow. On 17th Radek sent letter to Mr. Francis expressing regret that compelled to place restrictions around empires [Embassies] and saying further “[omission] communication with your Government severed but with [by?] England landing troops on the Murman [coast] on Monday, could you address your telegrams to your representatives in Moscow, from whom we will receive them for forwarding by wireless?”

[Page 622]

Under date of 15th Ambassador telegraphed Consulate General that Radek’s attitude offensive and distinctly opposed to cordial and courteous tone taken by Chicherin and instructed me to inquire of Chicherin if Radek’s attitude approved. Ambassador called special attention to following sentence in letter … [from] Radek, July 14:. “I remind [you] in a friendly way that the non-compliance with our request we will regard as an act of exceeding unfriendliness and animosity.”

In personal interview on 17th Chicherin [expressed] regret that Radek had failed in what Chicherin said was a friendly mission empowered [intended] to smooth our difficulties through personal contact. At the same time he insisted without bluntness that the continuance of Allied missions at Vologda, where they are exposed to danger involving moral [responsibility] of Soviets, creates an “unbearable situation.”

From a sure source it is [learned that] Soviet government will not press question of Ambassadors’ remarks [removal] to Moscow, for the moment at least, in such a way as to precipitate what Radek has described to Chicherin as an “undesirable and [omission] by him with the Allies and aid which would run counter to our policy of balance,” but that they will operate against the Ambassadors “a moral siege of gentle reprisals such as isolating them from their entourage, limiting their supplies, stopping all persons desiring [to see] them, etc.”

Lockhart and Consuls General of France, Italy, and America join in foregoing. Please acknowledge.

Poole
  1. Sent via the Embassy in France (No. 4539); by wireless from Moscow to Paris.↩