File No. 861.00/3524
The Chargé in Denmark ( Grant-Smith) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 24, 9.35 a.m.]
3341. Kobenhavn of 22d instant publishes long interview with Harald Scavenius, former Danish Minister to Russia, who arrived in Copenhagen last week, as reported in my 3271, December 7, 5 p.m.,1 in which he states that his departure from Petrograd should not be considered as a severance of diplomatic relations between the Bolshevists and the Danish Government. He is strongly of the opinion that [Page 732] intervention in Russia by the Allies should be undertaken immediately and not postponed until spring and that if comprehensive measures are taken now it will be possible to control the situation but that scarcity of food and its consequences will drive the bourgeoisie into the hands of the Bolshevists if steps are not taken without delay. While denying the rumor that Finland is threatened by the Bolshevik leaders, favors sole [Allied] occupation of Petrograd and Moscow which would deprive them of their bases. The Red Army in Petrograd only numbers 30,000, and he thinks it would be easy task for Allies to occupy both cities.
He asserts that any one who brings food into Russia will be received with open arms and that distribution of food would [secure?] Petrograd and Moscow. Scavenius states that the Bolshevist propaganda, headed by the Austrian Radek, is carried on by persons of many nationalities including even Indians and Chinese, but no Danes. Its purpose is to develop the communistic ideas already prevailing in various countries along lines which are suited to respective national characteristics. In Berlin 400 Russian propagandists are operating and missions have also been sent to France and England, which is to be the object of an attack through her outermost point, India. A school in Moscow which teaches Bolshevist doctrines recently sent a commission to India. M. Scavenius states each member of the Russian bourgeoisie is now receiving only one herring every other day and that this class is in imminent danger of starvation if no assistance is forthcoming. No less than 500 persons were shot at Petrograd in one night on the sole pretext that it was necessary.
- Not printed.↩