File No. 763.72/6154
The Consul General at Moscow ( Summers) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 2.]
Sir: I have the honor to report that the Special American Diplomatic Mission to Russia visited Moscow June 22–24, 1917.
In the local preparations for the visit a very cordial interest had been manifested by public officials and many public-spirited citizens. Despite the very short time elapsing between the receipt of information as to the definite time of the visit and the arrival of the mission, [Page 126] these officials and citizens made plans and perfected arrangements for its members to meet the most influential and representative groups in the community. Cooperation between these Moscow officials and citizens and the American Consulate General was at all times cordial and effective.
The mission arrived at 2 p.m. on Friday, June 22, by special train from Petrograd, the members making the trip being Messrs. Root, Crane, McCormick, Mott, Duncan, and Bertron, and General Scott. The party also included Col. R. E. L. Michie, aide to the General Staff, Col. C. Bentley Mott, aide to Mr. Root, and Basil Miles, secretary of the mission. It was accompanied by the Assistant Minister of Trade and Industry, V. V. Preelyaev.
At the railway station the mission was met by the Commissaire and the Mayor of Moscow, citizens representing various public organizations, and by the American Consul General with members of the staff of the Consulate. Speeches of welcome were made by the Commissaire, Mr. N. M. Kishkin, and the Mayor, Mr. N. I. Astrov. A brief response was made by Mr. Root for the mission.
The members of the mission were then taken to the Kremlin, much courtesy and kindness being shown them by the commander of the Kremlin, Prince Odoevski-Maslov.
Later in the afternoon they visited the Committee of General Organizations, where addresses were made by Mr. S. I. Prokopovich, chairman of the meeting, Dr. B. I. Shbankov, Mr. Grigoriev and Mr. S. I. Tretyakov. Mr. Root’s speech to the committee was listened to with great interest.
In the evening the mission was received at a meeting of the City Duma. Addresses were made by the Mayor, Mr. N. I. Astrov; Mr. N. I. Guchkov, representing the Russian-American Chamber of Commerce; Mr. G. A. Alexeev, representing the Union of Russian Zemstvos; Mr. B. M. Ovchinnikov, representing the Union of Cities and Zemstvos; and Mr. Bubnov, representing the Council of Soldiers’ Deputies. Following the address of the Mayor, Mr. Root delivered the main speech of the mission in Moscow. It was greeted with much enthusiasm and applause, and there are many evidences of the deep impression it has made upon the community.
On Saturday, June 23, the mission visited the War Industrial Committee, the Union of Cities and Zemstvos, the National Bank, the Bourse Committee, and various factories working on war materials.
On Sunday, June 24, after being taken on an excursion to Sparrow Hills, the mission attended a concert at the Synodal Institute, the music being provided by one of the finest ecclesiastical choirs in Russia, and by a group in peasant costumes which sang Russian folk songs.
[Page 127]The special train carrying the mission back to Petrograd left Moscow on Sunday evening.
Attached hereto are copies of articles and editorials which appeared in the local newspapers, each one being accompanied by a translation according to the literal text.1
To those who devoted much time and effort toward extending the hospitality of the city, who are at the head of organizations visited, or who showed special courtesies to the mission, I have addressed letters expressing the appreciation of the Consulate General. They are: the Mayor, Mr. N. I. Astrov; the Commissaire, Mr. N. M. Kishkin; the commander of the Kremlin, Prince Odoevski-Maslov; the president of the War Industrial Committee, Mr. P. P. Ryabuzhinski; the president of the National Bank, Mr. M. P. Avsarkisov; the president of the All-Russian County Union, Mr. N. N. Chmelev; the president of the Bourse Committee, Mr. S. N. Tretyakov; the regent of the choir at the Synodal Institute, Mr. N. M. Danilin.
I have [etc.]
- Not printed.↩