861.00/5006: Telegram
The Chargé in Russia (Cole) to the Secretary of State
[Received 11:58 p.m.]
1371. Your 725, August 6, 4 p.m. answering your questions paragraph (2): Embassy personnel will be 24 persons including military attaché, his assistants and employees and the naval attaché, 30 Y.M.C.A., who are mostly now at the front but whom I hope to withdraw soon, and 11 Y.W.C.A. staff, also one unattached citizen. American Red Cross plans to leave soon taking supplies and Baltic Province inhabitants to Libau or Reval. The British are now arranging accommodations and I deem it best to allow them to continue their arrangements. Des Moines could not take so many.
Paragraph (3): This question cannot be finally settled until the arrival of General Rawlinson53 who is expected tomorrow. Not yet decided whether all Russians who desire will be evacuated or only those indicated by the Allied authorities. None of my telegrams mention any definite number of Russians. Ironside has asked for accommodations for 7,000 but should all who desire be removed the figure will be larger.
Rawlinson is to be in full charge and the British Foreign Office proposes that the British Chargé d’Affaires cease to function as such and should act as the General’s diplomatic adviser. I will ascertain from Rawlinson whether American tonnage is desired but it seems to me perhaps advisable that the entire responsibility for and management of the evacuation be left entirely in British hands.
- Lt. Gen. Henry Seymour (Baron) Rawlinson, of the British Army.↩