File No. 861.00/2734
The Ambassador in Russia (
Francis
) to the
Secretary of State
Archangel
,
August 15, 1918
.
[Received September 16.]
Sir: I have the honor to enclose herewith
copies in English and Russian of an address to the Russian people,
composed by myself, approved, and signed by the Allied representatives
of the Diplomatic Corps now in Russia and published subsequent to our
return to Archangel. There is also embodied in this pamphlet an appendix
giving the telegraphic correspondence between myself, as dean of the
Diplomatic Corps, and Chicherin,
Soviet Commissar for Foreign Affairs, beginning with the telegram
received from Mr. Chicherin on
July 23 earnestly entreating the Diplomatic Corps to leave Vologda,
which telegram was subsequently cabled to the Department, and concluding
with the telegram numbered 7, received just before our train departed
from Vologda about midnight July 24, 1918. English translations of these
telegrams are also enclosed.
This address to the Russian people was published in the principal
newspaper of the city of Archangel on Sunday, August 11, 1918, copy of
which newspaper, marked, is also enclosed;1 7,500 copies of this newspaper were sold upon
this day. The Allied Diplomatic Corps is also having printed 50,000
copies of the Russian pamphlet of this address for distribution.
Arrangement has already been made for the distribution, through the
Cooperative Societies, of 10,000 copies of this pamphlet at the present
time.
As the address clearly sets forth the intentions of the Allied
Governments with regard to Russia and their noninterference in Russia’s
internal affairs, and states the Allies’ position with regard to the
Brest Litovsk peace, this pamphlet can with compatibility be used for
distribution continuously in all territory controlled or which will be
controlled by the widening influence of the Allied forces and the new
“supreme government of the northern region.”
Although this declaration was issued entirely without consultation with,
or with the approval of, the new government, the members of the new
government expressed themselves as highly pleased with the declaration
and especially with the expressed principle of noninterference in the
internal affairs of Russia. The pleasure of the new government was no
doubt enhanced by the fact that the British military authorities had
conducted themselves entirely in a military manner, and being an
expeditionary and occupational force had perhaps not taken sufficient
cognizance of the existence of the “supreme government of the northern
region.”
[Page 633]
In this connection, upon the first joint meeting of the Allied
Ambassadors of America, France and Italy and British Commissioner
Lindley with President
Chaikovski and his secretary, President
Chaikovski expressed his dissatisfaction with
the conduct of General Poole
with regard to the “supreme government of the northern region,” or
rather as to lack of cognizance of such government in his military
administration. Realizing the delicacy of the situation, the above-named
Allied diplomatic representatives undertook to liquidate any friction
which might occur and reiterated to President
Chaikovski our principle of noninterference in
Russia’s internal affairs. This seemed to pacify President
Chaikovski to a great extent, and although
there has been recurrence of the same difficulty, I have no doubt but
that we will be able to eliminate this as a factor in the local
situation.
Relative to this discussion, the formation of the new government and the
entry of the Allied expeditionary forces, inquiries among the local
population seemed to establish the fact that the change in government as
well as our entry into Russia at this point is more than welcomed by
all. Since the change in régime, although the city is under martial law,
conditions have been entirely tranquil, and if there are any Bolshevik
elements still existent in the city they are not perceivable.
I have [etc.]
[Enclosure]
Address Published by the American and Allied
Representatives in Russia
To the Russian People: We as
representatives of all the Allied countries having missions in
Russia at the present time desire to inform you of our movements and
aims and have adopted this method of doing so because the
metropolitan press has been forbidden to print our communications or
statements. We last arrived at Archangel August 9 after a stay of
one week at Kandalaksha during which time three of our number
visited Murmansk.
We left Petrograd about February 26 on account of the threatened
approach of the German troops, the Dean of the Corps going to
Vologda where he was later joined by others and where we have been
functioning for four or five months past as representatives of our
respective governments who have never ceased to consider you as
their allies against Germany.
On July 10 Chicherin,
Commissar for Foreign Affairs in the Soviet government, wired us
that it was unsafe for us to remain in Vologda and insisted that we
remove to Moscow, and that he had sent Radek as
his representative to Vologda to “execute” the request or demand.
Not considering it unsafe to remain in Vologda in the good will of
whose people we had entire confidence and believing Moscow an
undesirable residence place for us we refused to change our
location. Chicherin’s first
telegram to us and our reply thereto were given to the press and
published in Vologda and Petrograd papers before the arrival of
Radek. Subsequent correspondence, however,
by wire and mail with Chicherin and Radek, the
Russian papers were prohibited from printing; we attempted however
to inform you about these occurrences in pamphlet printed [Page 634] in Russian and containing
the order issued, by the Extraordinary Revolutionary Staff at
Vologda to the journals of that city prohibiting the publication of
communications or interviews with us unless previously censored by
said staff—the same Revolutionary Staff later prohibited the
distribution of such pamphlets.
We thought our non-removal from Vologda was settled when about
midnight of July 23 we received from Chicherin an urgent telegraphic message entreating
us to leave Vologda as it was unsafe to remain there and to use the
words of the message, “to-morrow can be too late.” On July 24 we
went to the station prepared to leave Vologda but the central Soviet
government on learning that we contemplated going to Archangel
informed us that “Archangel is not a fit place for Ambassadors to
live” and that our going there meant our leaving Russia. We replied
that if forced to leave Russia we would do so with regret and that
our absence would be temporary only. The textual copies of the
correspondence between Chicherin and ourselves is printed herewith as an
appendix.
We left Vologda about 2 a.m., July 25, and arrived Archangel about 11
a.m., July 26, when we were waited upon by
Popov, chief local Commissar, and
Lapin, representative of the central Soviet
government, accompanied by a member of the local Soviet Executive
Committee, and informed that a boat was awaiting us at the wharf
near the railroad station to convey us to whatever destination we
might elect. We replied that we were unwilling to leave Archangel
until we could communicate directly with our Governments from which
we had received no intelligence for over one month; that if not
permitted to cable via Alexandrovsk we requested an additional boat,
as the one provided was inadequate for the Diplomatic Corps and our
party numbering about one hundred forty, and also an armed. Allied
escort from the Archangel bar to Kandalaksha or Murmansk; after
stating that their instructions were unequivocal and positive the
Soviet Committee observed our firm attitude and said they would
transmit our requests and demands to the Central Soviet and report
the result thereof to us. The following day, July 27, they reported
that cable communication with our Governments was impossible and
that an armed Allied escort was unavailable because there was none
in Archangel harbor; that no telegraphic communication was possible
between Archangel and Murmansk where armed Allied crafts were said
to be stationed; when asked if the prevention of such telegraphic
communication was political or physical the reply was “both.” The
local Soviet Committee promised to furnish us an additional boat and
in response to our request for armed escort to Kandalaksha agreed to
furnish one or two trawlers if available. Meantime for various
reasons we had decided to quit Archangel and go to Kandalaksha and
had determined that if no armed escort was obtainable we would go
without it. After many delays and inconveniences which some of us
looked upon as discourtesies and in fact indignities we cleared in
two steamers accompanied by one trawler from Archangel at 4 a.m.,
July 29, and arrived, at Kandalaksha about noon, July 30. We are not
directly charging the Soviet government at Moscow with ordering our
detention at Archangel because we have no documentary evidence on
which to base such a charge: we have learned however from sources
which we consider reliable and authentic that orders were given by
the Central Soviet power at Moscow to Kedrov and to the Archangel
local Soviet to prevent our leaving Archangel. The object no doubt
was to hold us as hostages in the event armed Allied intervention
should occur or be attempted.
On our arrival at Kandalaksha we were informed that Allied troops had
left Murmansk for Archangel and were subsequently informed that on
August [Page 635] 1 or 2 a local
revolution had taken place in Archangel and a new government
proclaimed and that later Allied troops had landed under the command
of General Poole. In reply
to our inquiries we were informed that it would be safe for us to
return to Archangel where the accommodations are much superior to
those at Kandalaksha or Murmansk.
The foregoing explains our movements from the time we left Vologda
July 23 until our second arrival in Archangel. As stated above it
was never our intention or desire to quit Russia and we have not
done so.
On our return to Archangel we find the city and the surrounding
country under the new government which has already explained to you
its organization and its plans for the future. While considering you
as allies against a common enemy of the Governments and the peoples
whom we represent we have no intention of interfering in your
internal affairs. We hold to the belief that all civilized peoples
have the right themselves to determine their own form of government.
We have never recognized the Brest Litovsk peace and so stated to
you when it was signed and again when it was ratified by the Soviet
Congress at Moscow March 17 and that position has been repeated time
and again by our Governments as well as by ourselves. We will never
recommend to our Governments the recognition of any Russian
Government which has not a national character, which disregards
Russia’s solemn bonds of alliance and which observes the Brest
Litovsk peace treaty.
We feel confident that the Allied countries we represent could make
our own peace terms with Germany at any time we would agree to leave
Russia to the tender mercies of the Central Empires. Such a peace
however if effected would be temporary as Germany after
strengthening herself with the immeasurable resources and immense
man power of Russia, prompted by her insatiable ambition to rule the
world, would threaten the liberties of the peoples whose trust we
hold. Moreover we not only sympathize with Russia in the
difficulties she has encountered but we feel deeply grateful to her
for her heroic struggle and the sacrifices she made and the timely
assistance she gave the Allied cause in the beginning of this world
struggle. If you have any doubt in your own minds and hearts
concerning the dominating spirit or the grasping selfishness of
Germany you need only read the expressions of her rulers, of her
military party, of her political leaders, of her clergy, and even of
her socialists, to dispel such doubt. The Germans profess to believe
that they are God’s chosen agents not only for the subjugation of
Russia but for all of the peoples of the entire world. When Germany
brought on this world war her people were so imbued with their
potentialities for success that they assumed a haughty and
overbearing attitude toward all opponents. Within a few months a
Minister of Foreign Affairs who dared question the strength of
Germany to settle this conquest by force of arms was compelled to
resign.
Surely you will not accept a peace which has already dismembered your
great country in whose record and achievement every Russian with
national spirit cherished a pardonable pride. Indifference or
lukewarmness or inaction on your part at this time will result in
additional and still greater curtailments of your liberties and
still greater encroachments on your territories by the Central
Empires and will bring down on your memories the anathemas of your
descendants. The defense of your country is, nevertheless, a
question between every Russian and his own conscience. The Allies
leave it there with every confidence and have no intention of
forcing any one to fight against his will.
There can be no doubt about the outcome of this war. It will result
in the’ absolute defeat of the Central Empires. The German dream of
world power will be dissipated and even the Germans themselves will
look back with humiliation [Page 636]
upon the time when they indulged in such vanity and such folly. This
Allied victory will result in a lasting peace. There will be no
longer any question as to a civilized people’s being dominated by a
foreign power. The right of all people to dispose of themselves is
the main issue in this struggle and it will be settled and settled
right before the Allied armies will lay down their arms. Russia has
a great future and the Governments and the people whom we represent
will not permit that future to be clouded or impaired by German
presumption.
We expect to remain in Russia and to continue to represent the
friendly sentiment of our countries toward you. Our Governments will
recognize any form of government you may adopt provided it is the
choice of the entire people and provided furthermore it will offer
resistance to our enemy who is your enemy also and the enemy of all
liberty-loving people throughout the world. Russia has within her
borders more than sufficient products to feed and clothe her immense
population but if attributable to civil strife or ineffective
transportation you are deprived of the necessities of life we are
willing and ready to divide our products with you; the knowledge
that you are suffering from hunger or nakedness would prevent our
enjoyment of the material blessings of an All-Wise Providence.
[Appendix 1—Telegram—Translation]
The Soviet Commissar for Foreign Affairs
(
Chicherin
) to the American Ambassador (
Francis
)
Moscow
[
July 22, 1918
.
Received July 23.]
I entreat you most earnestly leave Vologda and come here. Danger
approaches, to-morrow can be too late, when battle rages distinction
of houses cannot be made if all smashed in your domiciles during
struggle of contending forces responsibility will fall upon your
making deaf ear to all entreaties. Why bring about catastrophe which
we will avert?
[Appendix 2—Telegram]
The American Ambassador (
Francis
) to
the Soviet Commissar for Foreign Affairs (
Chicherin
)
Thank you for your telegram. We fully appreciate the uninterrupted
interest you have taken in our personal safety and have decided to
follow your advice and are leaving Vologda.
[Appendix 3—Telegram—Translation]
The Soviet Commissar of Ways of Communication
(
Zaikin
) to
the Station Master at Vologda
In accordance with an order from the People’s Commissar for Foreign
Affairs Chicherin, I request
information without delay as to who from the American Embassy and
for what purpose is demanding a special train to Archangel. Until
the receipt of this information and the receipt by you of a permit
to dispatch the train, same should not be dispatched.
[Page 637]
[Appendix 4]
Authorized reply by the American Ambassador
(
Francis
)
The American Ambassador as Dean of the Diplomatic Corps received
about noon to-day a telegram from Chicherin entreating the Diplomatic Corps to leave
Vologda “as to-morrow can be too late” and it is unsafe for them to
remain there. This train is desired by the American Ambassador for
the entire Diplomatic Corps to convey them to Archangel.
[Appendix 5—Telegram—Translation]
The Soviet Commissar for Foreign Affairs
(
Chicherin
) to the American Ambassador (
Francis
)
Undated
.
[Received
July 24, 1918.]
Having heard of your resolve to leave Vologda for Archangel we see
ourselves compelled whilst appreciating your clear comprehension of
the untenable situation in Vologda to be kindly informed by you
about some particulars of your decision. If your intention is to
leave Russia we are powerless to hinder you in doing so but we
express our sincerest regrets at your departure from our soil
together with our hope to see you soon in our midst here in the
heart of Soviet Russia. In case you really wish to depart we beg to
emphasize that in our view the relations between our two countries
are not going to be affected by an event to which we will not
ascribe any political symptomic character. If, however, the idea of
exchanging Vologda for Archangel was not altogether removed from
your mind, it is unfortunately necessary to draw your attention to
the fact that in the expectation of a siege Archangel cannot be a
residence fit for ambassadors and that such a question cannot
possibly be answered in the affirmative. I cannot but repeat that
under the present condition when our foes seeing their impotence to
play a part in the political life of the great masses, seek to
conspire and to create artificial outbursts and to provoke civil
war, we can, with complete earnestness, point to Moscow where as
experience shows our forces are and cannot but remain in undisturbed
control of the city and to its peaceful gay suburbs with their
splendid villas as to an appropriate abode which our government
deliberately proposes to the Ambassador of friendly America. We must
at any cost avoid the danger of your departure’s being
misinterpreted in the eyes of our great masses and of the American
public opinion and of its being understood in a sense altogether
dissimilar to that in which you and myself would understand it. That
at the present juncture would be a fatal mistake and the best means
of averting this danger would be your coming to the official center
of Russia where a warm friendly reception awaits you. The special
train is at your disposal but we do not lose the hope that your
decision will be to come to Moscow.
[Appendix 6—Telegram]
The American Ambassador (
Francis
) to
the Soviet Commissar for Foreign Affairs (
Chicherin
)
On receipt of your urgent telegram of the 22d addressed to me as Dean
of the Diplomatic Corps and received about noon of the 23d, I called
the Diplomatic Corps in conference. After deliberating we decided to
leave Vologda but considered that our previous telegraphic
correspondence had fully settled [Page 638] the question of our going to Moscow and that
conclusion was negative. As Dean of the Corps I replied to your
telegram expressing appreciation for your continued interest in our
personal safety and advising that we had concluded to leave Vologda.
Consequently the entire Diplomatic Corps repaired to their trains at
Vologda station, but on giving directions for the train to move we
were informed by the railroad officials that no motive power could
be furnished without authority from Moscow. We were under the
impression and had been informed from reliable sources that these
trains were at our disposal and locomotives would be furnished upon
our request. When such request was forwarded to Moscow the reply was
received after some delay that locomotives could not be furnished
without your consent and you desired to know who had asked for the
train for the American Ambassador and for what purpose he wished to
go to Archangel. I promptly directed that reply be made that the
locomotive was desired to take the entire Diplomatic Corps to
Archangel as they had concluded to quit Vologda upon receipt of your
urgent telegram entreating them to leave because unsafe to remain in
Vologda and stating that postponing departure until to-morrow might
be too late.
In reply to this statement you wired me at length. The correspondence
up to this time had been between myself as Dean of the Diplomatic
Corps and yourself as Commissar of Foreign Affairs.
This telegram while sent by me as Dean of the Diplomatic Corps is
meant also for my reply as the American Ambassador.
Permit me to say that while your message is appreciated because
expressing friendly feeling for the people I represent and a desire
on your part to maintain relations with them and with my Government,
your treatment of me as their representative does not accord with
such expressions. While refraining from interfering in the internal
affairs of Russia, I have considered that the Russian peoples were
still our allies and have more than once appealed to them to unite
with us in resisting a common enemy; I have furthermore recommended
to my Government many times to send food to relieve the sufferings
of the Russian people and to ship agricultural implements to meet
requirements of Russia. A wireless message sent from Washington July
18 received at Moscow was delivered to me after last midnight. It
stated that no message had been received from me of later date than
June 24 except one sent through Archangel July 7 advising of the
killing of the German Ambassador; it furthermore stated that it had
cabled me often and fully. I have received no cable from my
Government that was sent after July 3 except two wireless messages
inquiring why they did not hear from me; I have cabled fully every
day. Moreover the press of Vologda and doubtless the entire press of
Russia has received orders to print nothing from any Allied
Ambassador or representative without first submitting same to the
Soviet government. Some journals in Vologda and some in Petrograd
did print your first telegram inviting or ordering the Diplomatic
Corps to come to Moscow and our reply thereto; these were given to
the press by myself for the information of the Russian people and
because I thought secret diplomacy had been abolished in Russia.
Upon learning that the press was forbidden to publish further
correspondence concerning our removal to Moscow, the Diplomatic
Corps decided to have printed in pamphlet form in Russian the entire
correspondence on the subject together with some excerpts from a
stenographic report of the interview between your representative
Radek and myself. These pamphlets have been
ready for delivery for two days past, but we are informed that the
Central Soviet Committee or the Extraordinary Revolutionary Staff of
Vologda has prohibited delivery of same to us.
[Page 639]
Your last telegram addressed to myself, while expressing friendly
sentiments toward America and consideration for its Ambassador,
makes no mention of my colleagues representing America’s allies in
Vologda. This is to inform you if you entertain any doubt on the
subject that the Allied representatives in Vologda are acting in
concert and in perfect harmony.
The Allied missions and staffs have been living for twenty-four hours
in the special train on track at Vologda station awaiting a
locomotive to transport them to Archangel. Your telegram to me
states that if permitted to go to Archangel it would only be for the
purpose of their leaving Russia which you “are powerless to hinder.”
Your telegram states that Archangel is not a fit residence for
ambassadors in the event of “a siege.” Do you expect a German siege
of Archangel? You certainly do not anticipate Allied siege of that
city or you would not insist upon the Allied representatives coming
to Moscow. If you mean a siege of Archangel by Russians I can only
repeat what I have said to you and to the Russian people many times
and that is that the Allies have nothing to fear from the Russian
people whom they have constantly befriended and with whom they
consider themselves still in alliance against a common enemy.
Speaking for myself I have no desire or intention of leaving Russia
unless forced to do so, and in such event my absence would be
temporary. I would not properly represent my Government or the
sentiment of the American people if I should leave Russia at this
time. The Brest Litovsk peace the Allies have never recognized, and
it is becoming so burdensome to the Russian people that in my
judgment the time is not far distant when they will turn upon
Germany and by their repulsion of the invader from the Russian
borders will demonstrate what I have continuously believed and that
is that the national spirit of great Russia is not dead but has only
been sleeping.
The above are my personal views and feelings, and I think that in
cherishing such I am properly representing my Government and my
people.
The Allied Diplomatic Corps of Vologda awaits your immediate approval
of the locomotive to draw their train to Archangel. If local
authorities at Archangel consider the situation does not allow us to
remain, we shall leave with deep regret and with the hope of soon
returning.
After receipt of this telegram Chicherin had a conversation by direct wire with
the American Embassy. The American Ambassador sent Mr.
Lehrs, an attaché of the American
Embassy, with instructions to inform Chicherin that the Diplomatic Corps reiterated
with emphasis its request for a locomotive in order to go to
Archangel.
Mr. Lehrs stated:
Immediately after your conversation Mr. Chicherin called for
Mr. Vetoshkin and told him that
when a definite reply from the Ambassadors would be
received which cannot be otherwise but a decision to go
to Archangel he should give orders, to immediately
provide for a locomotive and also telegraph to Mr.
Popov of the Soviet in
Archangel informing him concerning the Allied
Ambassadors and instructing him to prepare a steamer. If
Mr. Vetoshkin thinks necessary that
the People’s Commissars of the Soviet themselves should
send a telegram to Archangel signed by Lenin, Trotsky and Chicherin they would do
so. Mr. Vetoshkin thought that it
would be necessary.
After this conversation I telegraphed to Mr. Chicherin the
following:
I will immediately submit your telegram to the
Ambassador. After your telegram has been discussed
by the Diplomatic Corps the dean of the corps,
American Ambassador Francis, will at once communicate his
reply to you by telegraph. We intend to
communicate with you this evening about 9
o’clock.
[Page 640]
Mr. Lehrs transmitted the following to
Commissar Chicherin the
same evening:
I am instructed by the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps to
inform you that the diplomats of the Allied missions at
Vologda after considering your message decided to
request you to furnish at your earliest convenience a
locomotive to draw their special train from Vologda to
Archangel.
[Appendix 7—Telegram—Translation]
The Soviet Commissar for Foreign Affairs
(
Chicherin
) to the American Vice Consul (
Lehrs
)
[
Undated
] [Received July
24, 1918, 11.20 p.m.]
We will give instructions that a locomotive should be put at your
disposal at Vologda and that a boat should be prepared for you in
Archangel. Once more we emphasize that we do not ascribe a political
meaning to this individual leaving of diplomatic representatives,
which we profoundly regret and which was caused by a sorrowful
conjuncture of circumstances, independent of our will.
