File No. 861.00/2518
The Chargé in Sweden ( Whitehouse ) to the Secretary of State
[Received 11.23 p.m.]
2660. Foreign Office has received telegram from Swedish Consul General, Moscow, stating that [German] Government refuses to grant safe-conduct until settlement of negotiations now pending with England concerning treatment of German subjects in China and Soviet now refuses to allow consuls to leave via Kotlas on the ground that there is violent fighting along the Dvina. Swedish Consul General adds that negotiations are progressing for departure of consuls via Siberia and for liberation of those English and French still in prison; that negotiations would be greatly facilitated if England would guarantee not to shoot any Commissaries of the People that may fall into her hands. Notice has further been served on Czecho-Slovaks that if they execute any Commissaries on the Samara front, certain Czechs now imprisoned in Moscow will be executed.
Asker, Swedish Consul General in Moscow, who is now here on leave, is returning immediately to his post as Government feels he has influence in Moscow and is beginning to fear also for lives of Swedish subjects.
[Page 646]British Minister has received telegram from his Government approving his informal request through Swedish Foreign Office for a safe-conduct for our people to come via Finland and directing him to make an official request to Finnish Chargé d’Affaires in the same sense. Do you approve of my having joined with him and if so shall I also now make an official request to the Finnish Chargé d’Affaires, although I fear our people will not be allowed to pass via Petrograd?