763.72119/8055: Telegram
The Commission to Negotiate Peace to the Secretary of State
[Received 5:58 a.m.]
5468. From Polk for Lansing. I take the liberty of reporting points mentioned by Lloyd George in a long and interesting conversation I had with him Monday at his request. I have repeated to Ambassador Davis all that was said.
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Lloyd George told me that the British would give no further aid to Kolchak or Denikin after the supplies already set aside for them had been taken. Apparently he considered their situation menaced and could not see what further assistance could be given them. His view is that the time has arrived to see whether it is not possible to reach an agreement with the Soviet Government. He strongly feels that Europe will be menaced by a unified Russia. On this account he thinks that [Georgia], Azerbaijan, Bessarabia, the Ukraine, the Baltic provinces and Finland, and possibly even Siberia, should be independent. He told me that according to his information the Bolsheviki were gaining, that they were anxious for peace, and that they were prepared to recognize their international obligations. Although he did not mention an inter-Allied conference, he seems to have it in mind that a proposal may be made for a conference of that kind.
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