125.677/6: Telegram
The Commission to Negotiate Peace to the Acting Secretary of State
[Received 3:06 p.m.]
1560. From [Jenkins at] Odessa.
“April 6, 7 p.m. For the Department. Closed consulate yesterday noon. Swiss vice consul in charge of the interests, all Americans safe. Am aboard United States ship Nahma accompanied by Randolph, Burri, and clerks Olson, Pollard. Doolittle in the North Caucasus; his report on the Crimea called for [forecasts] evacuation from there. Unless he reported favorable conditions in Novorossiisk, which is not likely, there is no other suitable place southern Russia for consulate and therefore I respectfully request further instructions to be repeated [sent] to Constantinople.
Last of Allied forces left the city today, which is already in the hands of the local Bolshevik. Allied forces withdrawing by land to Bessarabia. Apart from political considerations the evacuation was inevitable there [principally] because of poor morale of the insufficient French forces and general mismanagement, particularly their lack of foresight in handling economic situations. Please notify families of our safety. Jenkins.[”]