File No. 861.00/1856
The Consul at Moscow (Poole) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 24, 8.58 p.m.]
529. From open telegram No. 528, even date, Department will see how Germany is planning to obtain control of Caucasus including rich Kuban region by sustaining independent government which will be subservient to its wishes. Chicherin says that owing mountainous character country and prevalence Bolshevik doctrines among people Germany cannot succeed here as in Ukraine and Finland. It is true [omission] Kuban and Terek Cossacks have responded rather generally to Bolshevik propaganda but it is not to be expected that German absorption of Caucasus will be seriously interfered with except possibly by native uprisings which might be fomented from bases established by the British advancing from direction of Persia and Mesopotamia.
Letter dated April 18 received to-day by courier from Smith, Tiflis. He outlines plans for defense of Trans-Caucasus against Turks but peace conference now in progress Batum indicates that further resistance found impossible. No telegraphic communication with Tiflis.