861.00/5140: Telegram
The High Commissioner at Constantinople (Bristol) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 2, 11:25 p.m.]
6. …
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Odessa and Kief have been taken from the Bolsheviks. In this connection may I suggest that all Americans returning from south Russia speak of general bitterness in Denikin circles because America lends no aid. The British are assisting with war material for which they get a good price and considerable praise, but we have done nothing beyond sending a shipload of Red Cross supplies. Our military mission, which never amounted to anything because it was headed by a captain instead of a general, has been withdrawn and in all south Russia there remains a solitary vice consul, not of [Page 771] career, to represent the United States of America. Such are American complaints. It is recommended that the American Government appoint an economic commission for south Russia prepared to ship goods there to the value of perhaps a hundred million dollars during the next few months but only against Russian raw products of equal value. It is essential to set the wheels of commerce going and to give the Russian money a real value, which only can be done by exchange of goods. It is believed that Colonel C. B. Smith and Major Percy Blair, both now at 51 Avenue Montaigne, Paris, may prove useful in an American governmental undertaking of this kind. Both were identified with the recent American Red Cross enterprise at Novorossiisk. It would seem quite possible yet for our country to render a signal service towards the rehabilitation of south Russia. This year’s crops in that section are exceptionally abundant. Ravndal, American Commissioner.