File No. 861.00/1647
The Consul General at Moscow (Summers) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 24, 6.35 p.m.]
405. Commissariat Foreign Affairs has telegraphed Ministry Foreign Affairs, Berlin, that, according information received, German-Ukrainian troops have passed Perekop and are advancing on Simferopol in the Crimea. “Even according to ex parte statement [of] Ukrainian government, Crimea does not form part Ukrainian republic. Advance complete violation of Brest treaty as it is into territory of people’s Soviet republic. It is a threat to our Black Sea Fleet.”
Trotsky has issued order:
To prevent violence in war-prisoner camps between prisoners of certain convictions and those of other convictions, and against officers, I order measures to be taken immediately for disarmament of prisoners.
All stipulations of Russia’s international agreements respecting war prisoners to be carefully observed.
Strictly to forbear from violation agreement in paragraph 2, Brest peace treaty, binding authority “to forbear from all agitation and propaganda against the government or state institutions” of the Central powers.
To admit into Red Army only those volunteers of foreign origin who have become Russian citizens.
Refer my 401, 22d.