861.00/4902: Telegram
The Ambassador in Great Britain (Davis) to the Secretary of State
[Received 12:42 p.m.]
2609. Following telegram from [Cole at] Archangel.
363, July 22nd, 6 p.m. Please transmit the following telegram to the Department as our number 1339 and to American Mission, Paris as our 150, July 22nd, 6 p.m.
Russian troops quartered along the entire line of communication from the city of Onega to Chelenavo 45 miles up the Onega River mutinied at 1 p.m., yesterday July 21st, and went over to the Bolsheviki, the city of Onega itself passing into the hands of the mutineers at 1 a.m. today. British aeroplanes have flown over all parts of this front from Onega to Chelenavo. They were fired on and observed red flags everywhere. Almost simultaneously a similar revolt was attempted on the Vologda railroad front, but British and Polish troops disarmed the mutineers. So far all is quiet at Archangel itself.
General Ironside has advised London that he sees but two eventualities—either immediate heavy reinforcements or early evacuation.
British Chargé d’Affaires believes evacuation, if decided on, should be prompt and should be preceded by strict military dictatorship under Ironside. Accompanying this he thinks all stores, such as those of flour belonging to the Allied Supply Committee, should be put as much as possible into the hands of the actual population to prevent Bolsheviki gaining possession of large amounts undistributed supplies.
It is of paramount importance to the honor of the Allied and Associated Governments to furnish ample tonnage in which to evacuate all Russians who have compromised themselves by friendly relations, personal or official, with those Governments or their representatives. Any Russians who have been in any way connected with the present Government or the Allies and associates are certain to be [Page 642] shot or imprisoned by the Bolsheviki. No government can be established that could live for an hour after the foreign troops’ departure and therefore the Provisional Government will have to leave also.
Refer in this connection my telegram 1327 to the Department, 143 to Paris, July 17, 6 p.m., paragraph 3, last sentence to end of message, especially last sentence of paragraph 6. Also my 1321 to Washington, 141 to Paris, July 16, 6 p.m.,43 paragraph 3, last sentence, and 1315 to the Department, 140 to Paris, July 11, 5 p.m., paragraph 3. The present critical condition is the natural result of the factors outlined in those telegrams and the withdrawal without replacement of the American troops was the first step. Cole.
- Not printed.↩