861.00/5811: Telegram
The Ambassador in Great Britain ( Davis ) to the Secretary of State
[Received 4:56 p.m.]
3486. Your 6222, November 28, 4 p.m.99 Have discussed with Lord Curzon as directed the Siberian situation. There is no change at present in British policy in that region and their representatives have been instructed to countenance no movement intended to overthrow or displace Admiral Kolchack, nevertheless he believes that [Page 129] Kolchack has failed and will ultimately fall. Notwithstanding Prime Minister’s speech1 no new policy has been decided on as to Russia. Prime Minister’s utterance was made without previous knowledge of Curzon and international conference suggested in the Guildhall speech was not intended as preface to another Prinkipo proposal nor the calling of a special inter-Allied conference. What the Prime Minister had in mind was the coming together at the Turkish conference when a consultation might be had on the Russian situation. Savinkoff2 now in London is urging on Foreign Office recognition of chain independent states from Esthonia to the Caucasus and creating of an anti-Bolshevist alliance between them. Curzon speaks of this as policy worth consideration but not ripe for decision. Speaking of a second Prinkipo Curzon states that it would not be acceptable to public opinion in England, would be bitterly opposed in France, and he presumed America’s attitude towards it would be doubtful. I told him in my judgment that present industrial unrest in America had increased the feeling against the Bolsheviks. Notwithstanding the above the Prime Minister himself tells me that in order to bring peace in Russia he is not averse to treating with the Bolshevik Government and is utterly opposed to further military ventures. He favors encouraging the ultimate division of Russia into a number of independent states leaving none of sufficient size to threaten the genuine peace.
- Foreign Relations, 1920, vol. iii, p. 481.↩
- See telegram from the Ambassador in Great Britain, no. 3394, Nov. 15, p. 122.↩
- Boris V. Savinkov, formerly Assistant Secretary of War under Kerensky.↩