File No. 861.00/1615
The Ambassador in Russia ( Francis ) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 19, 2.23 a.m.]
107. Your 57, April 10, 2 p.m.1 Have cabled all information when received concerning arming prisoners of war, concerning which advices conflicting. Following official communication from Berlin to Soviet government:
Information from authentic sources that German and Austrian voluntary fugitives menace Moscow, intending capture Swedish, Danish Consulates General same way they have captured war prisoners’ camps and forced war prisoners enlist Red Guard. Civil, military [Page 125] authorities, Moscow, show utter helplessness, even favor these activities. German Government expects Russian Government take immediate energetic steps and insists (1) disbanding all war prisoners’ committees, voluntary fugitives under direction Austrian Ebenholtz, (2) demands arresting members above committees.
Robins, when communicating this, expresses opinion that it demonstrates scare about arming prisoners is German work to frighten Allies. Webster expected Sunday but conditions probably changed since he left Irkutsk, 10th. Military attaché, to whom your 38, April 2,1 referred, reports that Riggs says unknown number of Ukraine-Teutonic battalions been formed by Germans, but no confirmation obtainable. Consul General reports has cabled Department substance of report by local Bolshevik committees to their headquarters, Moscow, concerning German occupation of portions of Russia.