Office of the Historian

File No. 861.00/1887

The Ambassador in Russia (Francis) to the Secretary of State

[Telegram—Extract]1
Vologda, May 20, 1918, 5 p.m.
[Received May 26, 10.42 p.m.]

185. … My policy would be materially assisted by raising of Chinese embargo against tea exportation into Russia, also by coming through of shoes en route Dairen and arrived there, also by increased allotment for the purchase of supplies, and I hope will be materially aided by coming Emerson2 and his assistants. Meantime I trust that the Department will arrange tonnage for shipping American products to Archangel for discreet use in purchasing Russian supplies unavailable otherwise; shall safeguard such supplies to prevent acquisition by enemy and I am arranging for distribution thereof directly to consumers through Zemstvos and Cooperating Societies. I am with the assistance of military attaché organizing extensive purchasing commission as I feel confident that the Department in some of the twenty-four cables still missing has complied with my urgent recommendation for increased allotment of funds. …

Francis
  1. Printed in full in vol. i, p. 536; see also ibid., p. 571.↩
  2. Col. George Emerson, in charge of the Russian Railway Service Corps.↩