ARTICLE 44 The German and Russian Governments reserve the right to arrange for supplementing and altering the foregoing principles in case this should appear desirable later on. ARTICLE 45 The agreement as to the Court of Arbitration may be denounced by Germany or Russia on July 1 of any calendar year, but not before July 1, 1921, the notice to expire on December 31. The competence of the Court of Arbitration to dispose of the disputes pending before it shall not be affected by the notice. PART VI.-FINAL PROVISIONS This convention shall be ratified, and the documents of ratification exchanged in Berlin by September 6, 1918. Articles 1 to 12 of the convention come into force with the exchange of the documents of ratification, Articles 13 to 45 two months after the exchange. The German and Russian Governments reserve the right to agree upon a later period for the coming into force of Articles 13 to 45, if regular intercourse should not be established between Germany and Russia. In witness whereof the plenipotentiaries have signed and sealed this agreement. Executed in duplicate in Berlin, August 27, 1918. (L. S.) VON HINTZE (L. S.) KRIEGE CHAPTER XIII THE REMOVAL OF THE AMERICAN AND ALLIED EMBASSIES FROM VOLOGDA TO ARCHANGEL File No. 861.00/2296 The Ambassador in Russia (Francis) to the Secretary of State [Telegram] VOLOGDA, July 11, 1918. [Received July 20, 12.50 a. m.] [328.] Just received the following from Chicherin: 1 Urgent. Taking into consideration present situation and the possibility of danger for the Allied representatives the Soviet government looks upon Moscow as the town where the security of the mentioned representatives can be assured. Considering it to be its duty to safeguard the Ambassadors, the Soviet government sees in their coming to Moscow a question of necessity. We hope that the highly esteemed American Ambassador will appreciate this step in the friendly spirit in which it is undertaken. In order to execute this measure and to remove any difficulties the People's Commissariat for Foreign Affairs delegates to Vologda as its representative Citizen Radek. Have sent following reply to above message: Immediately on receiving your urgent message last midnight I called a meeting of the chiefs of Allied missions as their dean. I am requested by them to ask you why you think our remaining in Vologda unsafe or inadvisable. We have no fear of the Russian people, whom we have always befriended and whom we consider our Allies, and we have full confidence in the population of Vologda. Our only anxiety is concerning the forces of the Central Empires with whom we are at war and in our judgment they are much more likely to capture Moscow than Vologda. We realize that in a country suffering as Russia is at present there are unreasonable and desperate men, but we are confident that they are not more dangerous at Vologda than elsewhere. At Moscow, on the other hand, we hear that the Germans have already received permission to introduce their troops to safeguard their representatives, and in any case the town is directly threatened by the Germans. 'Sent via Murmansk and the Embassy in Great Britain. 618 If you mean by your message that the government of Soviets have taken, without consulting the Allied missions, the decision that the latter should come to Moscow and that you are sending Mr. Radek to carry such a decision into execution, we desire to inform you that we consider that would be offensive to us, and we would not comply therewith. Given to press. File No. 861.00/2363 [FRANCIS] The Consul at Moscow (Poole) to the Secretary of State1 [Telegram] Moscow, July 11, 1918, 6 p. m. 707. News of change of ministry in Germany with military party dominating creates expectation here of more aggressive German policy in Russia. German Consulate in Moscow yesterday made preparations for departure, turning over archives to Swedish Consulate, but office running as usual to-day. Confirmation received of the presence of Milyukov at Kiev and his definite adherence to the German military party, whose intervention in Russia he believes to be the only means of restoring the Russian state. His Cadet friends in Moscow profess to repudiate his action and to remain pro-Ally in their sentiments. Commissariat of Foreign Affairs yesterday invited Allied Ambassadors to quit Vologda for Moscow on the ground that only at the Capital can they be properly protected. Commissariat says that it has word of impending counter-revolutionary outbreak in Vologda and fears moreover that the Germans in order to embroil the Allies with the Soviet government, will instigate murder of an Allied Ambassador. Soviet Congress has adjourned. Bolsheviks continue in complete control in Moscow, but situation in the provinces reveals great falling away in their support. Four to five hundred cases cholera Petrograd daily. Food situation there desperate. POOLE 'Sent via the Consulate at Petrograd and the Legation in Norway (No. 922); copy received by wireless July 16 via the Embassy in France unintelligible (File No. 861.00/2284). File No. 861.00/2348 The Consul at Moscow (Poole) to the Secretary of State 1 [Telegram] Moscow, July 12, 1918, 5 p. m. 708. Ambassador telegraphs that Allied chiefs of mission at Vologda have unanimously decided not to comply with Soviet demand that they come to Moscow (see my No. 707). He adds that British Ambassador has so advised General Poole at Murman and Admiral Kalman [Kemp] at Archangel [at same time] urging every day [immediate] sending Allied troops to Archangel. Chicherin would not admit last night what motive really lies back of pretext of safety. He insists also that no intimation has yet been received of attitude of new German Minister for Foreign Affairs toward Soviet government. Chicherin is conciliatory in his attitude toward Allies for the moment, has declared he will endeavor to reform Lenin's view. Trotsky, on the other hand, seems to have become violently anti-Ally and is reported to have proposed a declaration of war against us. Personal impression gained from almost daily contact with Chicherin not in accordance with conclusion drawn from impression as [omission] from the provinces, namely that the [Bolshevik] power is already moribund. He also reported [omission] in Kiev in touch with the Germans. POOLE File No. 861.00/2351 The Consul at Moscow (Poole) to the Secretary of State 2 [Telegram] Moscow [July 19 ?], 1918. 21. Following summary to date of the situation of the Allied diplomatic missions is sent at the Ambassador's suggestion for communication to the Department and the Allied missions Paris: Commissariat Foreign Office on July 11 invited the Allied Ambassadors to come to Moscow on the ground that only here could their personal safety be assured, and sent Radek to Vologda as representative of Commissariat to arrange for removal. American Ambassador replied on behalf of corps, of which he is dean, that Allied missions had no fear of Russian people whom they have always 1 Sent via the Embassy in France (No. 4556); by wireless from Moscow to Paris. 2 Sent via the Embassy in France; by wireless from Moscow to Paris. befriended. Their only anxiety concerned forces of Central Empires which they had heard were to be admitted to Moscow. If Soviets, without consulting Allied missions, had taken decision that latter should come to Moscow, and had sent Radek to carry such a decision into execution, the Ambassadors considered such would be offensive and would not comply therewith. To this message Commissariat replied orally through Consulate General that rumors of admission of German troops to Moscow unfounded; that message respecting Ambassadors' removal to Moscow was intended as an invitation and not as a demand. On 13th local authorities Vologda, at Radek's direction, placed military guards around embassies. In telegram to Commissariat Foreign Office, Mr. Francis spoke of this as "virtual arrangement to place us under espionage or to make us prisoners." Chicherin replied that guards "have for sole aim your protection against dangers menacing you." Reply to Commissariat by Mr. Francis, dated 15th, made following chief points: (1) Wishes of Ambassadors not consulted in placing guards; (2) no mention by Commissariat of exact nature of danger threatening missions; (3) missions are in Vologda with approval or by instructions of their respective governments, and cannot change residence without consulting them; (4) cable communication with governments severed-none of the missions has received message from its government since assassination of German Ambassador; (5) no reply to invitation to come to Moscow is possible until communication be reestablished. Former Tsar shot 16th. You should receive details through British Embassy and the British Government. POOLE File No. 861.00/2317 The Consul at Moscow (Poole) to the Secretary of State1 [Telegram] Moscow, July 20, 1918, 5 p. m. 24. Continuance my No. 20 [21] of yesterday [concerning Ambassadors'] leaving Vologda for Moscow. On 17th Radek sent letter to Mr. Francis expressing regret that compelled to place restrictions around empires [Embassies] and saying further "[omission] communication with your Government severed but with [by?] England landing troops on the Murman [coast] on Monday, could you address your telegrams to your representatives in Moscow, from whom we will receive them for forwarding by wireless?" 'Sent via the Embassy in France (No. 4539); by wireless from Moscow to Paris. |