123 T 71/123: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Great Britain (Davis)

4589. Your 789, February 7th, 8 p.m. The offer of the British Government to include imprisoned American citizens in its demand upon the Bolsheviki for release of British nationals is greatly appreciated. The United States has already received through the Norwegian Government a proposal made on December 28th by the Bolsheviki Foreign Office at Moscow to release over the lines the American citizen Kalamatiano now at Moscow and a British Missionary [mission] under arrest at Vladikavkaz provided the Commissaries and other representative men of the Bolsheviki arrested by Allied troops at Baku, Blagoveshchensk and Vladivostok be also released. A later telegram through the same channel communicates the request of the Bolsheviki Foreign Office, dated January 25th, for an immediate reply. The Department has replied through the Norwegian Government that until the Bolshevik authorities shall have released Tredwell, the American Consul at Tashkent who has been held there under arrest since October in violation of international law and the long accepted principles governing foreign intercourse, and given him safe conduct out of territory in control of the Bolsheviki, the United States will not consider lending its good offices in connection with the proposal to exchange Kalamatiano for the Bolshevik representatives mentioned. It has been added that the United States wishes the Bolshevik authorities clearly to understand that it will hold personally accountable the individuals responsible for delay in releasing Tredwell and giving him safe conduct out of Bolshevik territory.

If the action taken should not be inconsistent with that which the British Government proposes to take, the Department would be very glad to have included in the proposed demand for exchange [Page 174] the American citizen Kalamatiano, who is under arrest at Moscow and sentence of death for espionage. The number of American military prisoners in Russia, if any, is not yet definitely known.

Inquire whether the British Government, through the Government of India, would be willing to make another effort by wireless to obtain the release of Tredwell in return for the release of one or more of the Bolshevik hostages. Also ask that if there be no objection the following message be despatched by wireless through the Indian Government.

Tredwell, American Consul, Tashkent. Letter October 9 has been received. Mother and sister are well and send love. Telegraph how you are and why not released. Polk, Acting.”

Polk