File No. 861.00/1672
The Consul General at Moscow (Summers) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 27, 1.25 p.m.]
401. Following is translation of radio from German Ministry of Foreign Affairs, April 19, to Russian Commissariat for Foreign Affairs:
From reliable sources we hear that in various camps for prisoners of war in Russia revolutionary committees have been formed which are anxious to equalize the position of officers and soldiers. This has actually taken place in Omsk, Tomsk and Ekaterinburg. In Omsk the committees decided to prevent the prisoners of war from returning to their own country. Having this in view, the railway station was occupied by armed bands which have also been instructed to prevent the prisoners arriving from the east to continue their journey. Further, in the very near future, a congress of prisoners of war is to be held at Moscow intended to express the same ideas. Having these circumstances in view, the German Government makes the following demands on the Russian Government:
- (1)
- Prisoners of war are to be immediately disarmed in Omsk and only reliable government troops are to remain which will be able to prevent the repetition of such circumstances;
- (2)
- All the administration of the camps, especially in Omsk, Ekaterinburg, is to be taken over by the Russian authorities until the arrival of a German committee;
- (3)
- German and Austrian prisoners are not to live in the same camps;
- (4)
- The officers must be established in their former rank;
- (5)
- The railway station at Omsk is to be occupied by Russian Government forces which will be answerable for the journey of prisoners of war and civil prisoners arriving from eastern and central Siberia;
- (6)
- Meetings of prisoners of war, as the one which was to be held in Moscow, are to be forbidden and prisoners are to be allowed to return to their own country.
The German Government expects to receive information with regard to these demands.
Russian reply as follows:
Concerning the new German demands the Commissars wish to remind Germany that there was point in the Brest treaty dealing with the cessation of government agitation among the prisoners of war. This point is being actually fulfilled by Russia. The Russian authorities do not take any part in the political life of the prisoners. With regard to meetings, congresses, etc., they possess the same rights as all Russian civilians.
Press prints radio from Kiev that the Ukrainian republic does not recognize the annexation of Bessarabia to Rumania and a protest has been made to Rumania and the Quadruple Alliance.