File No. 861.00/2210
The Consul at Tiflis (Smith), temporarily in Moscow, to the Secretary of State1
[Received July 5, 9.45 a.m.]
In the government of the Terek, Bolsheviks are nominally in control and are supported by Russian population for fear of something worse. Cossacks and Mohammedans acquiesce temporarily in such government in order to delay open conflict between their respective tribes. Cossacks and most of the Russians realize the failure of Bolshevikism, and former could be reorganized and utilized against the Germans and Turks. Turkish propaganda energetically is carried out among the Mohammedans of North Caucasus and they can be expected to cooperate with Turks and Germans from Kuban or with any force inspiring confidence in ultimate success and which would not be suspected of a desire to crush our [their] nationality. Crops in the Kuban are above the average owing partly to increased area of grain and easily supply an army of occupation. This is fully realized by Germans who have recaptured Rostov-on-Don and [Page 634] are advancing beyond Bataisk towards Armavir. French mission agent’s estimate is three to four divisions German infantry, one division cavalry, and three divisions Austrian infantry in Don region. Impressions received from conversations with and reports from representative people of all classes, confirmed by what I had occasion to observe on my way from Tiflis to Moscow, are that military intervention would be welcomed; that such intervention, unless oil large scale, would not only be futile but would do harm; that there would be no objection to Japanese troops if accompanied by small forces of Americans both military and administrative; that it would be impossible to supply large force in northern Russia; that an active military campaign must be in the south where troops could live on the country; that an active anti-German propaganda in the Ukraine could effectively counteract the effect of an occupation of the governments of Ekaterinoslav and Kharkov; that the line of the Urals, Volga west [must be held?]. Participate in [people look on?] the intervention as a hand stretched out to a drunken man. They prefer the hand of a friend but an enemy’s is better than none.
- Sent from the Consulate General at Moscow (No. 647).↩