861.00/4443: Telegram
The Commission to Negotiate Peace to the Acting Secretary of State
[Received May 7, 4:16 p.m.]
2027. [From Ravndal at Constantinople:]
“May 6th, 5 p.m. From Jenkins, repeat Washington.
‘Aid to Volunteer Army. I respectfully refer to my telegram from Odessa13 regarding report on [Red Cross] assistance for North Caucasus. The Volunteer Army has usual defects of any purely Russian organization but should be assisted not only because of past achievements but because of the disastrous results which would follow its annihilation. It has throughout been faithful to the Allies. It kept the rich North Caucasus from the Germans and necessitated retention of German and Bolshevik troops on southeast front during crucial periods for Allies both in France, Russia and Siberia. Its defeat would increase prestige of Bolsheviks whose troops could be transferred to other fronts and would render extremely difficult the British task of preventing spread of Bolshevism through Transcaucasia to India. If properly equipped it could unite with Siberian troops thus hastening overthrow of Bolsheviks. Fortunately the British are sending military supplies but there is great need for three Red Cross units which should be sent immediately for both humanitarian and political reasons. The intelligent class is bound to win out eventually in Russia as elsewhere and they who support it now, will have the prestige in the future.’
Ravndal”
- Not printed.↩