123 T 71/142: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Chargé in Denmark (Grant-Smith)

1555. Referring to your 3825, March 31st in regard to the reported willingness of Bolshevik authorities to liberate all civilian and military Americans, Italians, Roumanians and Serbs now arrested in Russia as soon as the Russian subjects now arrested at Blagoveshchensk and Vladivostok are liberated, inform the Minister for Foreign Affairs that the United States cannot consider lending its good offices in connection with the Bolsheviki proposal unless the Bolsheviki first release Roger Tredwell, American Consul at Tashkent. This Government is willing to use its good offices to effect the release of Russian subjects referred to in exchange for the Italian, Roumanian, Serbian and American nationals, including Kalamatiano, Houston and Albers, provided that Tredwell is well treated and escorted in safety to a convenient frontier station outside Bolshevik control.

What purports to be a message from Tredwell has been received today announcing his release and departure from Tashkent for Moscow, on March 27, with the Danish and Swedish Missions. Endeavor to verify this report through Danish Government.

Polk