861.00/7076: Telegram
The High Commissioner at Constantinople (Bristol) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 26—8:54 a.m.]
378. Delegate of the armed forces of South Russia in Constantinople called and communicated certain information from General Wrangel who has just returned to the new front. General Wrangel intends to hold the lines he now has and will not attack unless he gets word that the Bolsheviks are going to attack him. Under such circumstances he must attack and not lose the initiative. When he took the present offensive it was because he had received information that the Reds were to attack him in the Crimea and therefore he attacked to gain the initiative. He informed the British representatives of this fact at the time. He now informs the British Government that he will hold these lines and in accordance with the agreement with the British Government will not attack unless he gets word that the Reds are about to take the offensive. Likewise he expects the British Government will stand by its agreement to support him in case the Reds attack.
General Wrangel also desires to make it plain that he does not consider that any guarantees given by the Reds could be relied upon and he had informed the British Government he is willing to accept their guarantees only if the necessary power to enforce them is assured.
General Wrangel states that with this new territory the food situation in the Crimea is relieved and there will also be wheat for export.
[Page 606]The Reds have been using asphyxiating gases in this last offensive. General Wrangel desired to point out that this is a crime in humane warfare and has been recognized as such when the Germans used it in the late war. He hopes that something can be done to prevent its use by the Reds.
The delegates requested that I convey this information to my Government.