861.00/4996
The Vice Consul at Viborg (Imbrie) to the Acting Secretary of State
[Received August 8.]
Sir: I have the honor to submit herewith a report on the political and military conditions in Soviet Russia, as evidenced by events since April first. …
At the beginning of April the Bolshevick tide was at its lowest ebb. In the East Koltchack’s advance toward the Volga was causing grave apprehension if not consternation. Trotsky and Lenine were at odds over the proposed removal of the Bolshevick capital from Moscow to Kieff. The Social Revolutionists were conducting a seemingly serious movement, which sometimes found voice in terrorism, against the Bolshevicks. (My telegram No 19 fourth.25) The food shortage in the Central Cities had reached a super-crisis. Railroad transportation had almost broken down and navigation had not opened. From the Finnish-Russian border Petrograd was menaced with an advance and in the opening days of the month a volunteer Finnish Force advancing into Carelia took Olonetz and threatened Petrograd from the North. (My telegrams Nos 23 ninth and 30 twentyninth respectively25).
That the Bolshevicks were in a state bordering almost upon panic is shown by numerous actions on their part: the summoning of the [Page 688] International Batallion to Petrograd (my telegram No 27 twentieth26): the building of pontoon bridges for retreat across the Neva (my telegram No 26 eighteenth26): preparations for the evacuation of Petrograd (my telegram No 44 first26): the withdrawal of the fleet from Kronstadt and the issuance of various decrees.
Early in May the Russian White detachment which had originated in Pskoff had attained sufficient numbers to encourage the belief that it might take Petrograd. This detachment accordingly advanced in the direction of Petrograd, meeting little opposition, and finally stopping at Gatchina forty five versts southwest of the City (my telegrams Nos 39 twentysixth, 50 thirteenth and 51 seventeenth respectively26). There was no military reason extant why this force could not have at once moved northward and captured the City. They were, however, without food sufficient to supply their own needs, to say nothing of feeding the population of Petrograd. The force therefore ceased its advance, merely taking steps to protect its flanks. In this latter operation Krasnaya Gorka, on the Finnish Gulf, was, with the assistance of the British fleet, captured.
This advance of this Detachment was a mistake. It should never have been made, unless the Whites were prepared to carry it to a conclusion and take Petrograd, which they were not, for the reason just given. The Reds at once began gathering and massing troops against this front. At first the Bolshevick troops were greatly outnumbered, but as the Whites made no attempt to advance, time was given in which to bring up the reserves which the Bolshevicks have continued to do with the result that Krasnaya Gorka has been retaken and at present the Whites are outnumbered about two to one. Many regiments of Soviet soldiers have gone over to the Whites, this constituting the sole means of White recruiting, but the Bolshevicks are in the position of still being able to bring up large reserves. (My telegrams Nos. 34 seventh and 64 ninth26).
In the meantime, the menace of an advance from the Olonetz front has been stopped and the Bolshevick troops, by virtue of superior numbers, have been able to push back the Finnish Whites. (My telegrams Nos. 34 seventh and 64 ninth26).
With the opening of navigation, the railway transportation has been supplemented by water transportation with the result that, in some slight degree, the food situation has been improved. The successes, which the Bolshevicks have attained on the Volga front, the pushing back of the Finns on the Olonetz front and the retaking of Krasnaya Gorka, have given the Reds a feeling of confidence, which, in view of the forces at present available against them, is [Page 689] certainly justified. They have determined on the defence of Petrograd, have mined its approaches, installed machine guns and artillery, placed the fortress of Peter and Paul in a state of defence and have taken numerous hostages from among the so-called bourgeoisie. Numbers of these hostages are executed after every advance of the Whites. (My telegrams Nos. 44 first, 48 tenth and 55 twenty-seventh27).
The position of the Bolshevicks on the Baltic-Carelian fronts is now stronger and the capture of Petrograd more remote than at the beginning of April. In fact, it may be safely said that no active force in the field against them has much hope of prevailing.
There remains, however, one way, aside from a campaign by an international expeditionary force, in which the capture of Petrograd and the consequent overthrow of the Bolshevicks, may be accomplished. This way lies through the Finnish army.
The present situation of Finland is critical. Her finances, owing to the greatly disproportional export over import have little back of them. In the past four months the Finnish Mark has suffered a two-fifth decrease in value and indications are that it will experience further depreciation. Because of the Bolshevick menace on her frontier, Finland is obliged to maintain a large—comparatively speaking—standing army and since this army cannot be wholly trusted, she is further obliged to have ready for service a still larger voluntary militia force, the White Guard, to watch the army. Besides this she is keeping in commission, quite uselessly, a considerable navy. In addition her administrative expenses are heavy. The huge budget, requisite for these expenditures, cannot be indefinitely continued. The cost of living is enormous, even on a dollar basis, work is scarce and wages low. The working population is discontented and offers fruitful ground for the sowing of the seed of Bolshevism.
The Finnish Government is aware of these facts. It is aware that its political salvation is dependent upon the overthrow of the Bolshevicks before its own country becomes impregnated with the leprosy of Bolshevism. It is aware that its economic salvation is contingent upon the opening up of Russia so that what is now the closed back door of Finland may become the open front door. And being aware of these facts, it is willing even eager to launch the attack against Petrograd. Every indication points to this. From sources so high that they may almost be considered official, I have been informed that the Finnish Government only awaits the sanction of the Allied Governments to launch its attack.
[Page 690]An agreement has been reached between the Russian Whites, under General Yudenitch, representing the Koltchack Government and the Finns are willing to attack. What these terms are, I have been unable to ascertain, but in all probability they embrace the granting of an open ice free port to Finland in the White Sea and possibly the cession of the west shore of lake Onega.
The Finnish army is quite capable of taking Petrograd and no time seems as propitious as the present. If the Bolshevicks are not crushed this summer their strength and prestige will be increased not only in Russia but in contiguous countries. Certainly it may be expected that Finland may very well fall under the disease. The population of the central cities cannot endure another winter as the past. Nor would a winter campaign against the Bolshevicks be possible as forage for horses, as well as fuel, will be entirely lacking in the coming winter. During the past month American Food Administration ships have unloaded at this port some ten thousand tons of food destined for Petrograd and at Reval more food is available for delivery to Petrograd, once it is released from the clutches of the Reds. The objection that even if taken, Petrograd could not be fed, therefore, no longer exists.
It has long been apparent that Russia, as an economic factor has, under the Bolshevicks, ceased to exist, at least so far as the United States and the Allied Nations are concerned. Where formerly she produced food in such quantities that it formed a large item of her export, now she is starving, a condition directly attributable to Bolshevick misrule and terrorism. The world is not only shut off from one of the greatest commercial markets, but it is also deprived of one great source of food supply. The agents of Germany, with an eye to the commercial and political future, are taking full advantage of the existing conditions. Already the feeling of Bolshevick Russia is with Germany. (In this connection, I would call attention to the Secret Report of the Bolshevick Reconnaissance Service, as transmitted under my Dispatch No. 16.29) Unless the Red regime of anarchy, murder and chaos is terminated before the coming winter, hundreds of thousands, if not millions of lives will be sacrificed to starvation and terrorism. Nor would the sending in of food while the Bolshevicks still remain in power obviate this, since any food so sent in would remain under Bolshevick control and would never reach the population which now stands most in need.
For every reason, therefore, economic, political, humanitarian, should this menace to the world’s peace be stamped out.
[Page 691]I trust the Department may not consider it presumptuous on my part to point out, for I feel it my duty to do so, that the consummation of this condition may be effected, as I have indicated, without the loss of a single American life or the expenditure of a single American dollar, by giving sanction to the advance of the Finnish forces and that I may be permitted to urge that such sanction and approval be communicated by our Government to the Finnish Government.
I have [etc.]