861.48/936: Telegram
The Commission to Negotiate Peace to the Secretary of State
[Received August 23, 12:58 a.m.]
3839. Department’s 2750, August 7, 6 p.m. and American Mission’s 3634, August 12, 8 [5] p.m. Russian representatives here have obtained from French Government promise of guns, munitions and quartermaster supplies for 40,000 men of Northwestern Army under Yudenitch. Remainder, about 15,000, are being supplied from England. French Government is, however, unable to provide necessary tonnage for transport and no tonnage is stated to be available in England. Russian delegation, therefore, inquires whether in view of extreme importance of continued operations on Petrograd front, shipping now in Europe or in transit across the Atlantic can be furnished by United States to extent of 45,000 tons. Offer [is made to pay for] freight either (1) by credit notes of the Provisional Government of Russia such as were given to A.R.A. for food supplies in the Baltic, or (2) by tonnage replacement out of Russian merchant fleet, of which assembling and reconstruction has been begun as is stated.
The Russian delegation insists on the great urgency of the situation and is confident that if this assistance can be given Petrograd must shortly fall. According to statement of delegation British are keeping keeping Denikine fully supplied and are taking greatest interest in his campaign. Russians also expect continued assistance of the British fleet in the Baltic. In their view if the Yudenitch movement can be carried out successfully the city of Moscow, menaced from the south by Denikine and from the north by Yudenitch, will be unable to defend itself permanently. They also believe that if Petrograd is taken the British Archangel troops can be withdrawn through Petrograd preventing the bad impression which would be created by their evacuating direct from Archangel. General Briggs, the British general, who according to the statement of the Russians has been responsible for much from [of] the success of Denikine, is now on his way to Yudenitch.
Russians state that the upset in Hungary will have extremely favorable effect upon Russian situation, They further state that [Page 705] Bolshevists have been obliged to withdraw considerable portions of their forces from the Kolchak front in order to try to hold Denikine and they are confident that Kolchak will be able to recover from his defeat.
General Hermonius of the Russian delegation here is shortly sailing for the United States on American transport in accordance with arrangements made by American Embassy.