861.00/7586
The Russian Ambassador (Bakhmeteff) to the Secretary of State
My Dear Mr. Secretary: There is quite an element of historic irony in that the brilliant triumph of Polish imperialism at Riga is substantially indebted to Russian national effort. As a matter of fact the Polish campaign has been greatly assisted by the operation of the troops under General Wrangel. Moreso, one of the main reasons compelling the Bolsheviki to accept peace on practically Polish terms seems to have been the danger threatening the Red armies from the Crimea.
Furthermore, the Polish troops were directly assisted by a body of Russian volunteers, organized in Poland by Boris Savinkoff. This detachment, of quite considerable size, was formed with the approval and assistance of the Polish Supreme Command. The basis of the agreement was an Order of the Day by General Pilsudski that Poland was fighting Bolshevism, not Russia.
It is useless to comment on the moral issue of the situation. There is, however, an immediate practical danger in the developments in so far as the position of the Russian anti-Bolsheviki forces in South Russia is concerned. Irrespective of the apparent increasing decomposition of the Bolsheviki machine, the Bolsheviki may succeed in moving large contingents from the Polish front to the [Page 622] South and attempt to annihilate the comparatively small body of General Wrangel’s troops by overwhelming forces.
It would be an example of deep historic injustice if pacification in the west would be concluded at the price of crushing the national movement in South Russia and would result in murder and wanton revenge on the Russian patriots and refugees assembled in the Crimea.
The great Powers have watched silently the negotiations between the Poles and Soviets. Moreso, the very fact of suspension of hostilities has apparently been welcomed. It is only fair to assume under such circumstances that an attitude will be adopted toward General Wrangel’s fighting forces which will at least allow the army in the South to use all means available to resist the Bolsheviki onslaught. In so far as the United States is concerned, it would seem essential from this point of view that such parties who would desire to assist General Wrangel would not be prohibited from shipping munitions and supplies from the United States to the South of Russia.
I am [etc.]