701.6111/377: Telegram
The Chargé in Sweden (Wheeler) to the Acting Secretary of State
[Received June 25, 8:27 p.m.]
3957. The Legation is in receipt through Swedish official wireless of the following telegram:
“The Commissariat for Foreign Affairs of the Russian Republic requests that the following be transmitted to the State Department, Washington:
The Commissariat for Foreign Affairs has learned with indignation of the arrest of Mr. Martens, its representative in New York. The Commissariat wishes to point out that all the diplomatic and consular representatives of the American Government in Russia up to their departure in September last have been treated by the Soviet authorities with the utmost courtesy in spite of the fact that since June of last year the American Government openly sided with all the Russian and foreign dark forces ranged against the workers and peasants of Russia with the sole object of crushing the great revolution and restoring Tzardom and bureaucratic capitalist rule. Even after American troops had landed on Russian territory and actually partook in military operations against the Russian laboring people not a single American citizen has been molested in Russia. Moreover American officials and journalists have been allowed admittance into Russia and accorded every courtesy and all possible facilities and privileges. The arrest of Mr. Martens is the more surprising and unjustified as he acted openly as the representative of Soviet Russia without calling forth any objection or protestation on the part of the American Government. The Russian Government fears that this arrest may not be an isolated case, but form part of a general persecution of Russian citizens loyal to their peoples government and demands the cessation of such persecutions and the immediate release of Mr. Martens. The Soviet Government expects to be accordingly informed at an early date and not to be compelled reluctantly to take reprisals against American citizens to be found on Russian territory. Signed Peoples Commissary for Foreign Affairs. Tchitcherin.”