811.20261/60: Telegram The Acting Secretary of State to the Chargé in Sweden (Wheeler) WASHINGTON, July 1, 1919, 4 p.m. 1662. Your 3964, June 27, 3 p.m.5 and 3955, June 24, 5 p.m. Department was glad to assist Lomonossoff to return to Russia in view of fact he came here first on an official mission from the Provisional Government. It is not willing to alter its attitude but cannot assist his staff except possibly under some arrangement which would secure the release of Kalamatiano. PHILLIPS 811.20261/64: Telegram The Chargé in Sweden (Wheeler) to the Acting Secretary of State STOCKHOLM, July 7, 1919, 4 p.m. [Received 10:37 p.m.] 3977. Your 1662 of July 1st was on July 5th communicated textually to the Soviet Government through the Swedish Government wireless by Mr. Emanuele Stang of Christiania, attorney for Lomonossoff. 811.20261/67: Telegram WHEELER The Commission to Negotiate Peace to the Acting Secretary of State PARIS, July 13, 1919, 4 p.m. 3129. Your 2516 [2416], June 25th, 4 p.m. Understand French Foreign Office considers that negotiations for the exchange of the French subjects now prisoners in Russia have come to a standstill and that nothing is to be expected from the Bolsheviks. For their own sake they intend to repatriate the Russian soldiers in France as soon as possible, regardless any reciprocal action on the part of the Bolshevik Government. AMERICAN MISSION 811.20261/68: Telegram The Chargé in Sweden (Wheeler) to the Acting Secretary of State STOCKHOLM, July 14, 1919, 5 p.m. 3988. My telegram 3977 of July 7, 4 p.m. Following telegram has been received here by Lomonossoff from Soviet Government. 24 *Not printed. "Referring radio of July 6, we have nothing to add to what we repeatedly stated to Lomonossoff. Kalamatiano committed highest crime against Soviet state, was properly tried according to Russian revolutionary law, is still regarded dangerous to Soviet Russia and cannot be set free unpunished. His exchange against Lomonossoff never formed subject of any note to the American Government or of conversation between you and Mr. Tchicherin or Litvinov. Gruzenberg had no authority whatever negotiate or make proposals on behalf of Commissariat Foreign Affairs. We were not aware that Lomonossoff ever wished to leave America and was prevented therefrom, on contrary Krassin 55 desired him to stay in America. We noted with satisfaction assurance of American Government that statement of Martens' arrest is untrue.56 Although technically a German, Martens spent most of his life and was educated in Russia, took active part in Russian politics, regarded himself and was regarded by others as Russian. The Soviet Government is glad to be relieved of the necessity of making reprisals against American citizens. We have no record Burri or Leonard mentioned in your radio. As to Consul Tredwell, he was arrested by the Turkistan Soviet in consequence of imprisonment of Soviet Commissariat on [in] the Caucasus by the Allies and the Russian Commissariat for Foreign Affairs did its best to have him released immediately after the way from Turkistan to Moscow was reopened. We would observe in conclusion that the American Government having now officially associated itself with Koltchak, Denikin, and thereby made itself responsible for their unheard of atrocities, wholesale massacres, burning alive of prisoners on barges, public flogging of women, should hardly feel qualified to reproach the Soviet Government for hardship caused to a few individuals. (signed) The People's Commissariat for Foreign Affairs." Lomonossoff has handed Legation written statement which is in part as follows: "Regarding myself in the same position as that of Mr. Tredwell, I am again appealing to you to grant me the opportunity to proceed to Moscow to my Government, or to return to the United States to my family. Mr. Tredwell was Consul in Russian Turkistan. After some trouble he was permitted to return to America. I was representing the Russian Ministry of Ways of Communication in America with the power of Minister. After the United States Government had ceased to regard me as such, I was for a whole year denied the credentials that would make it possible for me to leave Sweden for Soviet Russia. I am appealing to the traditional American spirit of fair play and justice. Mr. Tredwell's departure from Russia was not conditioned, therefore as a matter of reciprocity, I take the liberty to insist upon your granting me unconditional opportunity for a safe passage to Soviet Russia." Leonid Borisovich Krassin, Soviet Commissar for Trade and Industry and for Ways of Communication. See telegram to the Chargé in Sweden, no. 1663, July 1, ante, p. 149. The Legation does not believe Finland will grant Lomonossoff visa except at our official request. As the permission given him to remain in Sweden expires August 1st, and in view of Department's telegram 1581 of March 27 noon, I have the honor to request instructions. WHEELER 811.20261/68: Telegram The Acting Secretary of State to the Chargé in Sweden (Wheeler) WASHINGTON, July 18, 1919, 6 p.m. 1668. Your 3988, July 14, 5 p.m. You may inform Professor Lomonossoff his statement that he was denied for a whole year the credentials necessary to make it possible for him to leave the United States for Soviet Russia is contrary to fact. As soon as this Government learned that Professor Lomonossoff was unwilling to return via Vladivostok and, consequently, desired to return via Sweden, it went out of its way to ask for his passage through Sweden. You may telegraph the American Commissioner at Helsingfors that this Government would be glad if Lomonossoff were allowed transit through Finland to Russia. As Lomonossoff is returning to Russia in an unofficial capacity, the Department will not intervene for any secretary or other assistant to accompany him, except as suggested in my 1581, March 27, noon. You may say to Professor Lomonossoff that Department is surprised at his reference to Tredwell who, while on official duty for this Government, was arrested and subsequently interned under guard for months. PCLK [For papers relating to the continued imprisonment of Kalamatiano and his release in 1921 see Foreign Relations, 1920, volume III, and 1921, volume II.] Rejection of British Proposals for Facilitating the Repatriation of Chinese Coolies Remaining in Russia 861.00/3674 The British Chargé (Barclay) to the Acting Secretary of State No. 57 MEMORANDUM His Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires presents his compliments to the Acting Secretary of State and has the honour to inform him, by direction of his Government that they propose to send the following telegram to His Majesty's Representatives in China: "At the time Russia went out of the war there were a great quantity of Chinese Coolies working in Labour Battalions behind the Russian Lines. The Bolshevist Government have enlisted a considerable number of these Chinese, estimated at from 10 to 12,000 as soldiers in their Armies and are using them for the special object of devastation and extermination in the adjoining territory and also at the chief Bolshevist Centre to torture and put to death prisoners and political opponents. I am convinced the Chinese Government entirely disapproves of such proceedings and you should urge them to address an immediate summons to the Bolshevist Government either by wireless or through the Danish Red Cross, which appear to be the only means of communication still open, to release all Chinese from their service and to facilitate their repatriation to China. An order should also be issued to the Chinese in the Bolshevist Armies to cease serving with the Bolshevists and to return home as soon as possible. The Allied authorities will do all that lies in their power to see that this order is disseminated and reaches the Chinese concerned." In informing the United States Government of this proposed representation, His Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires is directed to express the hope that if they agree they will be so good as to instruct their representatives in China to support it. WASHINGTON, January 20, 1919. 861.00/3674 The Acting Secretary of State to the British Chargé (Barclay) MEMORANDUM The Acting Secretary of State presents his compliments to His Britannic Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires and in reply to the suggestion presented in the latter's Memorandum No. 57 of January 20, 1919, desires to raise a question as to the advisability of the proposed action at this time, for the following reasons: China is now in an unsettled condition and banditry is prevalent in many quarters, the Government being apparently unable to give ordinary protection either to its own people or to foreigners residing in the interior. The Chinese coolies whom it is now proposed to repatriate have become accustomed to the use of force in its most bestial form and the introduction of this element in large numbers into the present disturbed state of China might lead to a dangerous situation. It is suggested that it would be preferable that the coolies be returned gradually and that the Chinese Government supervise their distribution to different parts of China so that they will not in force endanger the peace of any locality. The Acting Secretary of State would be glad, before reaching a decision, to have the views of His Britannic Majesty's Government on the above question. WASHINGTON, January 25, 1919. 861.00/3783 The Department of State to the British Embassy MEMORANDUM The question of the repatriation of Chinese coolies now in Russia, as presented in the memorandum of His Britannic Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires of January 20, 1919, was referred to the American Minister in Peking for comment and a reply has now been received to the following effect: The Minister considers the repatriation of the Chinese coolies from Russia is not practicable because the Chinese Government has no means of taking action there and because the presence of these coolies in China in large numbers would endanger the peace of that country at this time. The coolies probably consist in a large measure of Manchurian brigands and Black Guards besides about fifty thousand labor coolies. The British and Russian Ministers at Peking agree with the American Minister that it is inadvisable to return the coolies to China at present. In view of the unanimity of opinion in Peking adverse to the proposal the Department of State believes there is no alternative but to concur in that opinion and it has accordingly so instructed Mr. Reinsch today. WASHINGTON, February 8, 1919. 861.00/3920 The British Chargé (Barclay) to the Acting Secretary of State No. 144 MEMORANDUM His Britannic Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires presents his compliments to the Acting Secretary of State and has the honour to inform him that a request has been made to His Majesty's Government from the Bolshevik Government to the effect that a desire has been expressed by members of the Union of Chinese Workmen in Russia to return home and that about three hundred men, which constitutes the first party of Chinese, are shortly to start for Siberia through Samara and Ufa. The Union have requested that facilities to return should be granted to these men by the Government of Siberia and |