Paris Peace Conference 861.00/143: Telegram

The Minister in Sweden ( Morris ) to the Commission to Negotiate Peace

54. Doctor Davidson reports the substance of a conversation with Litvinoff, representative of Soviet Russia. He seems well informed of airing that Russian affairs have had in United States Senate and knows of Senator Hitchcock’s report and thinks that laborers not only in England and France but in United States are strong allies of Soviet Government. His previous steps to secure peace through Allied representatives in Stockholm not having been acknowledged he cabled two days ago to Lansing directly. He has reasons to believe that Wilson is sorry he has consented to intervene on basis of Creel’s23 information, on which he is well posted. He thought isolation of Russia will be less effective weapon against them since Ukraine and Baltic provinces are accessible to them. Substance of concessions which he was understood to have sent to Lansing consisted in willingness to compromise on all matters involving foreigners such as foreign debts and external business relations. He considered Soviet Government quite as legal as any of counter-revolutionary Governments which Allies are supporting, and if recognition of Soviet Government should involve recognition of counter-revolutionary governments in their respective territories, he thought it would not be difficult task for Soviet Government to dispose of these counter-revolutionary governments. As to what would result if the world revolution should fail, he thought they could hold out one or two years with of course accompanying sufferings of millions of people. Should socialism prove itself a failure then he saw possibility for Bolshevik Party to give way to government in which Bolsheviks are simply opposition party. He said he was against Red terror and that he spoke against it while in Moscow but Peters, head of the Exportation [Extraordinary] Commission for Combating Counter Revolution, etc., argued that many plotters expecting Soviet Russia to be occupied in brief order by Allies seemed unconcerned about staying in jail until released by Allies. He thought it would be difficult to guarantee safety of foreigners now in Russia, even Red Cross workers. While no foreign government is represented in Russia (apparent omission) could not be protected against people who may object to discrimination in distributing relief. He was apparently not sure himself of situation in Russia at present, saying that conditions change very rapidly. He thought that economic bounds [blockade?] of Soviet Russia by Allies [Page 27] will probably be more responsible for spread of discontent and Bolshevikism in Scandinavia, especially where normal relations with Russia would provide work for great deal of labor.

Morris
  1. George Creel, chairman of the Committee on Public Information.