File No. 861.00/3352 The Minister in Sweden (Morris) to the Secretary of State 3281. In a conversation with Minister for Foreign Affairs to-day, I pointed out to him the free access which Bolsheviks in Russia have had for their propaganda in Sweden and also the ability they had to use Sweden for transmitting the Bolshevik propaganda to the United States and the Associated Governments. The Foreign Minister informed me that the Swedish Government has been taking step towards Bolshevikism in Sweden and preventing its being brought into Sweden itself and he confidentially informed me that Sweden had now withdrawn most of its representatives in Russia and that by the end of this week he expected to be in a position to stop the Bolshevik couriers coming into Sweden and also expected that other diplomatic relationship between the Bolsheviks and Sweden would be terminated at that time and they expected to get rid of Vorovski, the Bolshevik Minister here, and his associates. I understand that Denmark is also withdrawing her officials and subjects from Russia and within the next few weeks expects them to have been withdrawn. Repeated to Paris. Copy to London. MORRIS File No. 861.00/3384 The Minister in Sweden (Morris) to the Secretary of State [Telegram] STOCKHOLM, December 9, 1918, 5 p. m. [Received December 10, 3.17 a. m.] 3300. Referring to my cable 3281, of December 5, 4 p. m., forecasting a severance of diplomatic relations between Sweden and Bolsheviks, I quote below an official communiqué which has now been issued by Swedish Foreign Office: In view of the present food difficulties in Russia, and owing to the state of insecurity due to the repeated closing of the frontiers, it has been found necessary to require Swedes living in Russia to return home and to reduce the Swedish representation there to a minimum. The personnel of the Legation at Petrograd and the Consulate General at Moscow have now left Russia with the exception of two officials left at the Legation. It being furthermore established that Soviet government and its representatives have abused right granted them to send couriers in using these couriers as means of forwarding Bolshevik propaganda literature printed in various languages and designed for circulation in different countries, Minister Foreign Affairs to-day informed representative Soviet government to Sweden that diplomatic privileges he has hitherto enjoyed shall be withdrawn; viz., right to receive and dispatch couriers and state telegrams. In connection herewith, Minister Foreign Affairs declared that he expects representatives for Soviet government here to leave country unhindered. Return to Sweden of Swedes in Russia is naturally a condition for permission for Soviet representatives to leave country. Repeated to Paris. Copy to London. MORRIS File No. 861.00/3432 The Minister in Norway (Schmedeman) to the Secretary of State [Telegram] CHRISTIANIA, December 14, 1918, 2 p. m. 1451. Norwegian newspapers have reported that Norwegian Lega. tion at Petrograd has left but the Minister of Foreign Affairs informs me that if so he has not received advice of its departure. Minister for Foreign Affairs anticipates departure at any time however. On the basis of press reports regarding departure of Norwegian Legation a meeting of Norwegian Bolsheviks took place last night at which resolutions were passed recommending to the workmen's party and to the secretariat of the trade-union organization, a representative of "working Norway" be sent at once to Russia to take the place of the representative of "capitalistic Norway" and that a three days' strike be declared as soon as possible as a protest against the rupture with the Russian workmen's and peasants' republic. American mission advised. Copy to London. SCHMEDEMAN File No. 861.00/3524 The Chargé in Denmark (Grant-Smith) to the Secretary of State [Telegram] COPENHAGEN, December 23, 1918, 6 p. m. [Received December 24, 9.35 a. m.] 3341. Kobenhavn of 22d instant publishes long interview with Harald Scavenius, former Danish Minister to Russia, who arrived in Copenhagen last week, as reported in my 3271, December 7, 5 p. m.,' in which he states that his departure from Petrograd should not be considered as a severance of diplomatic relations between the Bolshevists and the Danish Government. He is strongly of the opinion that 'Not printed. intervention in Russia by the Allies should be undertaken immediately and not postponed until spring and that if comprehensive measures are taken now it will be possible to control the situation but that scarcity of food and its consequences will drive the bourgeoisie into the hands of the Bolshevists if steps are not taken without delay. While denying the rumor that Finland is threatened by the Bolshevik leaders, favors sole [Allied] occupation of Petrograd and Moscow which would deprive them of their bases. The Red Army in Petrograd only numbers 30,000, and he thinks it would be easy task for Allies to occupy both cities. He asserts that any one who brings food into Russia will be received with open arms and that distribution of food would [secure?] Petrograd and Moscow. Scavenius states that the Bolshevist propaganda, headed by the Austrian Radek, is carried on by persons of many nationalities including even Indians and Chinese, but no Danes. Its purpose is to develop the communistic ideas already prevailing in various countries along lines which are suited to respective national characteristics. In Berlin 400 Russian propagandists are operating and missions have also been sent to France and England, which is to be the object of an attack through her outermost point, India. A school in Moscow which teaches Bolshevist doctrines recently sent a commission to India. M. Scavenius states each member of the Russian bourgeoisie is now receiving only one herring every other day and that this class is in imminent danger of starvation if no assistance is forthcoming. No less than 500 persons were shot at Petrograd in one night on the sole pretext that it was necessary. GRANT-SMITH |