File No. 861.00/852
The Ambassador in Russia ( Francis ) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 22, 1.35 p.m.]
2117. Trotsky visited French Ambassador yesterday and was received but can not learn whether by previous appointment. Interview as reported in Soviet organ was concerning presence of French officers with Ukrainian army which Trotsky construed as “openly supporting countenanced [counter-] revolutionary machinations of Kaledin” and disorganizing [Russia]. Ambassador replied all [Page 653] French officers on mission in Russia have received instructions not to intervene in internal political struggles and that presence of officers mentioned was long since accredited to generals commanding the southwest and Rumanian front, and “is explained by the invitation frequently expressed by various Russian governments to supervise the formation of the national Ukrainian army” and in case of armed conflict between Rada and Soviet would take no part therein. …
- Printed in full in vol. i, p. 317.↩