File No. 861.00/1620
The Ambassador in Russia ( Francis ) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 19, 8.50 p.m.]
97. Your 67, April 4, 4 p.m.,2 received 11th. Webster 3 went Irkutsk with Hicks 4 and Trotsky’s representative, special car. Party sent by Soviet or Robins to investigate reports concerning arming [Page 123] war prisoners. Robins advised me that party going and inquired [should] same [be] accompanied by military officer, but [I] replied, Macgowan and Huntington at Irkutsk and thought sufficient for investigation. Arriving Irkutsk, were received by Siberian Soviet and, being requested to accompany latter to Manchuria Station for conference with Chinese, Webster wired Robins for consent, which Robins gave and asked my approval thereof. Replied, Webster in Siberia on account previous experience there, that as had not directed his going, my approval unnecessary. Webster telegraphed me twice but only one received. Robins, however, has repeated portions of Webster’s reports to me, see my 61, April 2.1 Think party sent by Soviet to investigate Macgowan’s reports received by me through Summers and communicated to Soviet through Robins. Siberian Soviet attentive to Webster party, gained their confidence and made such deep impression that Webster’s last en clair telegram to Robins, who forwarded me, also says:
Chief aim negotiations by Soviet, opening railway for transport which desirable, but handicapped by Allied non-recognition Soviet. Soviet desires recognition (1) to assure them control Russian Government; (2) would make foreign troops unnecessary [to] preserve domestic order; (3) if Germany attacks, enable them invite Allies cooperate; (4) assure exchange of raw materials for manufactured supplies. We heartily agree these statements.
Robins’s cables through Embassy and the Department have advocated recognition. One said Sisson concurred and Robins tells me that he has Sisson’s written approval on his retained copy. Robins repeatedly urged me to recommend recognition. Thompson 2 apparently has been carried by Robins; Thompson was so frightened after Bolshevik revolution that he did not sleep in his hotel but at Military Mission almost until departure because he had expended under Robins’s guid[ance] over a million dollars to exterminate Bolshevism. Sisson unheard of since March 14; if he is through lines, is probably cabling you that Soviet leaders are German agents.
Robins intense and sincere in everything and he is now as earnest in support of Soviet as he was opposed to them before November revolution, even saying “we” when speaking of Soviet.
The power of Soviet is weakening daily, making little progress in organizing army. Soviet offered command to Lechitski, able general under Brusilov, and late commanding southwest front and extremely liberal, but L. refused after Soviet told him objects of army were: (1) to support Bolsheviki; (2) to fight bourgeois Germany; and (3) to fight capitalism of England, France, America, [Page 124] and the Allies. Schwartz, another able Russian general, first accepted high position without asking objects but when ridiculed [advocated] changing name from Red Army to National or Russian Army, aroused such a controversy that he resigned or was relieved.
Furthermore, Bolsheviki are divided, jealous, envious. Kolontai exceedingly influential, good family, eloquent, brilliant, has married Debenko, fourth or fifth experiment, ten years younger but physically attractive, unscrupulous, ambitious, cruel, but cowardly, and they are under suspicion of Soviet. Debenko, hero of sailors who dislike Red Guard, was arrested for cowardice at Revel and imprisoned at Moscow, but released on examination and arranged meeting of sailors who congregated at Moscow when Soviet prohibited meeting. Moscow Soviet control Moscow district in addition to [omission] who fear and dislike them. If Allies or we alone should recognize Central Soviet, it would estrange many local [omission] and all opponents of present [régime]. I think time is fast approaching for Allied intervention and Allies should be prepared to act promptly.