CHAPTER XVI BOLSHEVIK PROPAGANDA Efforts to Counteract it and Check its Distribution through Scandinavian Countries-Withdrawal of Swedish and Danish Diplomatic Officers from Russia File No. 861.00/933 The Minister in Norway (Schmedeman) to the Secretary of State [Telegram] CHRISTIANIA, January 10, 1918, 6 p. m. [Received January 11, 2.36 a. m.] 460. A representative of Bolsheviks now in Christiania recently stated that it was the intention of his party to spread their doctrines in Scandinavia with particular energy and that similar efforts would be made in England and the United States as soon as agents could be set to work. So far as this country is concerned I do not think it impossible that there will be considerable Socialist agitation and resulting unrest in a not distant future. Would again call attention to necessity of strict surveillance of immigration into the United States from Russia. Ambassador at London advised by telegram. File No. 861.00/933 SCHMEDEMAN The Secretary of State to the Minister in Norway (Schmedeman) [Telegram] WASHINGTON, January 14, 1918, 3 p. m. 205. Your 460. Naval attaché Christiania reported under date January 8 as follows: "Bolshevik government has sent fresh money collected in Russian banks in large amounts to Stockholm for special use of propaganda in England and United States." Please endeavor to ascertain in what banks money deposited and advise Stockholm accordingly. File No. 861.00/1403 No. 71 LANSING The British Embassy to the Department of State MEMORANDUM As the United States Government are aware, the Bolsheviki government have appointed a representative in London with whom the British Government are unofficially in communication. The Bolsheviki authorities in Russia have thus the opportunity of sending sealed mail bags to London, and have used these bags for the transmission of the party's literature, which thus escapes censorship. Some of the British papers have already published very violent speeches from Russian sources, and, if no means of checking the importation of this literature through the Bolsheviki representative is adopted, there seems little doubt that an active antiwar and revolutionary propaganda will be started in all parts of the country through the efforts of the Russian agents. The ordinary way of dealing with the problem would be by notifying the Bolsheviki representative that if he continues practices directly contrary to diplomatic usage he will be requested to leave Great Britain. The British Government consider it certain however that, if such a course were decided upon, the Bolsheviki authorities in Petrograd would retaliate, and probably insist that all persons connected with the British Government, including the Embassy, should leave Russia. The results of such a measure, both to individual British subjects in Russia and to the relations between the two countries, would of course be most harmful. The situation is thus one of some difficulty, especially as it seems most probable that the course adopted in Great Britain will be extended, as and when opportunity arises, to Italy, France, Japan and the United States. The same problem may consequently be expected to arise in these countries, and the British Government are most anxious to learn as soon as possible what action the United States would propose to adopt towards this propaganda on the part of Bolsheviki representatives, should the case arise in this country. It is no doubt desirable that similar action in dealing with this question should be taken, if necessary, by all the Governments concerned, and enquiries as to their views on the subject are being made also of the French, Italian and Japanese Governments. WASHINGTON, January 16, 1918. File No. 811.111/2004 The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Russia (Francis) [Telegram-Extract] WASHINGTON, February 5, 1918, 8 p. m. 2045. Take visa declarations of alien emigrants of laboring class who entirely convince you by evidence of origin, occupation, and object of emigration that they may safely come to United States, and refer declarations to Department in duplicate with full report in triplicate, where report is necessary, by mail, unless applicant is prepared to defray cost of telegrams. Refuse visa in all other emigrant cases. Obtain previous approval Department before visaing passports of other aliens, including merchants, commercial travelers, and persons en route to other countries through United States, submitting declarations to Department in same manner as in case of alien emigrants. Department desires you to submit to it for its previous approval cases only of persons whose applications for visa you yourself approve. All others should be finally refused visa by you. You may refuse visas finally without referring to Department, if you consider there are sufficient reasons, or if you suspect, though without tangible evidence, the purpose of the journey. Inform Consuls, including Consul at Helsingfors, if possible. Department is likewise telegraphing him, also Vladivostok, direct. POLK File No. 861.00/1088 The Minister in Sweden (Morris) to the Secretary of State [Telegram] STOCKHOLM, February 11, 1918, 4 p. m. [Received February 12, 1.40 a. m.] 1 1473. Am informed that Kamenev, People's Minister, member Military Revolutionary Committee, and Zalkind, First Assistant Foreign Minister, both officially acting under the instructions of Bolshevik government, arrived Stockholm February 8 for the purpose of spreading Bolshevik propaganda in Sweden, England, and France. Reported that they started to spread Bolshevik propaganda also in Germany but Smolny government officially only named Sweden, England, and France. Smolny has appropriated five million rubles for spreading Bolshevik propaganda in foreign countries and it is supposed they have access to these funds. They arrived in Stockholm by boat from Mäntyluoto in Finland. With reference to published Berlin reports regarding accomplished separate peace with Ukraine Kamenev in Swedish press states that Ukraine Rada delegates, who agreed to the peace, now cannot officially represent Ukraine because recently Ukraine Soviets overthrew Rada and are in absolute control there and peace must now be concluded from Smolny. MORRIS · Smolny Institute was used by the Bolsheviks as their headquarters. File No. 811.111/3153 The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Great Britain (Page) [Telegram-Extract] WASHINGTON, March 7, 1918, 3 p. m. 6790. Under date of February 14, Embassy, Petrograd, reported that following Russian citizens had been given diplomatic passports by the Commissary of the People for Foreign Affairs: Passports were issued to enable them to proceed to Sweden, Norway, England, France, and the United States. Embassy reported further that Swedish and Norwegian Legations at Petrograd had visaed passports and that British and French Embassies had done likewise on agreement that bearers would not engage in propaganda in their respective countries. Foreign Office asked Embassy to visa passports for United States. Embassy replied that matter would have to be submitted to Washington and suggested that in order not to delay departure of holders of passports from Russia, Embassy would request that Department's decision be sent direct to London or Paris. Please repeat the foregoing to missions in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and France with instructions not to visa passports without explicit directions from the Department but to watch activities of the foregoing. Keep Department advised and should they present passports for visa state that no instructions had been received from the Department and offer to telegraph for same. POLK File No. 861.00/2936 The Chargé in Denmark (Grant-Smith) to the Secretary of State [Telegram] COPENHAGEN, October 13, 1918, 1 p. m. 2932. I am informed from reliable source that a quantity of Bolshevik literature has been sent to England and France for distribution. Copy to London. GRANT-SMITH File No. 861.00/2936 The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Great Britain (Page) [Telegram] WASHINGTON, November 6, 1918, 5 p. m. 2648. Referring telegram from Copenhagen dated October 13 regarding Bolshevik literature sent to England and France, Department believes much importance for the future attaches to sound efforts to counteract Bolshevik influence now and limit its scope. On this account this Government regards it of great importance to follow closely all efforts at Bolshevik propaganda both here and abroad. Please ascertain from Foreign Office its views and the measures it is taking; also ask Embassy Paris what is being done in France and report extent of Bolshevik present efforts in both countries. LANSING File No. 861.00/3210 The Minister in Norway (Schmedeman) to the Secretary of State [Telegram] CHRISTIANIA, November 13, 1918, 8 p. m. [Received November 14, 3.27 a. m.] 1337. My telegram No. 1313, November 5.1 British Chargé d'Affaires has telegraphed his Government recommending that the Associated Governments invite neutral governments to break off diplomatic relations with Bolsheviks and to control spread of Bolshevik propaganda, among other ways, by bringing pressure to bear on banks to cut off Bolshevik financial transactions. He further recommends that the Associated Governments formally inquire of neutral governments whether the latter will cooperate against Bolsheviks in Russia or remain neutral and in the latter [eventuality] that the Associated Governments threaten continued blockade pressure against neutrals and exclude them from the general reconstruction conference provided that it has been intended to admit them thereto. I learn that conferences are at present taking place among Norwegian bankers to consider ways and means to eliminate any financial transactions involving Bolshevik funds and that the general feeling among the bankers is that something should be done in this direction as the most effective way of crippling Bolshevik activities. I expect to hear in a day or two what measures may be decided on. I regard it as open to question whether it is expedient to bring about withdrawal of neutral diplomatic missions from Russia. My 'Not printed. |