Reports Odessa and Nikolaev taken by Germans without fighting. Russian fleet Odessa fled Sevastopol. In both cities Germans immediately repressed Soviets. At Nikolaev they took possession shipyards. German offensive continued towards Kherson. MORRIS File No. 861.00/1322 The Ambassador in Russia (Francis) to the Secretary of State [Telegram] VOLOGDA, March 18, 1918, 5 p. m. [Received March 20, 12.06 a. m.] 17. Have telegraphed Tokyo and Peking requesting keep me advised developments especially movements Japanese, Chinese troops. If division each American and Chinese troops could enter Russia with Japanese, think opposition to latter be minimized thereby. Tredwell, whom I sent to Petrograd, wires it is believed that city be controlled by German commission supported by army within a week; that next move will be on Moscow, and peace will be brief. Tredwell telegraphs, Haynes and Sisson with other Americans left Helsingfors 12th for Björneborg, Finnish port. I gave Moscow and Petrograd press declaration that America does not recognize separate peace, but considers herself still ally of Russian people against common enemy. Told mayor of it, and asked if would be less welcome thereby; he replied promptly would not. Mayor, commissaire, chairmen Duma and local Soviet, and five other officials dining at local Embassy 19th instant. FRANCIS File No. 861.00/1302 The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Russia (Francis) [Telegram] WASHINGTON, March 19, 1918, 3 p. m. 13. Your 7, March 12, 5 p. m. Department considers President's message to Russian people and address to Congress adequate answer. LANSING File No. 861.00/1351 The Consul General at Moscow (Summers) to the Secretary of State [Telegram] Moscow, March 20, 1918, 12 noon. [Received March 23, 9.55 a. m.] 278. The Russkoe Slovo publishes following interview with Trotsky regarding alliance of the United States with the Soviet government: Such an alliance is impossible. The Russia of the Soviets cannot align itself by determinate engagements with capitalistic America, for this would be a betrayal of its [omission]. It is possible that America is seeking such a rapprochement with us, driven in so doing by its antagonism towards Japan, but in any case there can be no question of an alliance by us of any nature with a bourgeois nation. The Department can easily realize the danger of such statements to our present friendly relations with Japan. SUMMERS CHAPTER VIII THE CONCLUSION WITH THE CENTRAL POWERS OF THE PEACE OF BREST LITOVSK, MARCH 3, 1918 File No. 763.72119/1043 The Minister in Sweden (Morris) to the Secretary of State [Telegram] STOCKHOLM, December 27, 1917. 1232. Swedish press via Petrograd telegram bureau reports Russian delegation Brest Litovsk proposed negotiations based following six points: 1. Forcible incorporation territories conquered during war prohibited. 2. Restoration people's integrity political independence where deprived of same by war. 3. Various nationalities not having independence before war assured right determine themselves whether they will belong to one or other state or become independent. 4. In territories inhabited by various nationalities rights minorities guaranteed and special rights granted involving cultural independence and making possible administrative autonomy. 5. No belligerent payments. So-called costs of war sums already paid out returned. For payment damages private persons fund provided by proportional contributions from all belligerents. 6. In solution colony problem points 1, 2, 3, 4 shall be observed. Russian delegation declares unpermissible any forcing of weaker by stronger nations; for example, economic boycott, forced trade agreements, separate customs conventions hindering freedom of third-state agreements, or sea blockades, etc. Petrograd telegram bureau reports state siege declared Moscow. Kornilov's forces six thousand with two hundred machine guns decisively beaten, been followed hundred versts government Kharkov by Black Sea sailors, also Polish Legionaries [sic]. Reports great Cossack forces massed near Tsaritsyn. Railway men taken energetic measures prevent them getting further north. MORRIS File No. 763.72119/1053 The Ambassador in Russia (Francis) to the Secretary of State [Telegram] PETROGRAD, December 29, 1917, 11 p. m. [Received December 31, 3 a. m.] 2166. Been expecting communication from Foreign Office inviting participation in peace negotiations, adjourned to January 4, but none received. Shall promptly forward if received. Soviet government professes to think Allies will participate in negotiations but Allies will probably decline. When doing so President or yourself should address a communication to the Russian people explaining the declination in order to prevent Russia's falling into the arms of Germany as ally and thus induce Russian benevolent neutrality and transfer to Central Empires responsibility for continuance of war. Germans arriving daily and making no effort to conceal their identity. Peace demonstrations here to-day to celebrate success of negotia tions at Brest. Trams discontinued, vehicles prohibited on streets mornings by parade. FRANCIS File No. 763.72119/1059 The Ambassador in Russia (Francis) to the Secretary of State [Telegram] PETROGRAD, December 31, 1917. [Received January 1, 1918, 3.03 p. m.] 2163[?]. Following is textual translation of address mentioned in my 2169:1 To the peoples and governments of the Allied countries: The peace negotiations which are being conducted in Brest Litovsk between the delegation of the Russian Republic and the delegations of Germany, Austria-Hungary, Turkey and Bulgaria have been suspended for ten days until December 26 [/January 8] in order to give to the Allied countries a last possibility to take part in the further negotiations and thus secure themselves against all the consequences of a separate peace between Russia and the enemy countries. At Brest Litovsk two programs have been presented, the one expressing the [view] point of the All-Russian Congresses of Councils of Workmen's, Soldiers' and Peasants' Deputies, the other in the name of the Governments of Germany and her allies. 'Trotsky addressed this note on Dec. 29 to the peoples and governments of the Allied countries, as stated in the Ambassador's telegram No. 2169, not printed. The program of the Republic of the Soviets is the program of consistent socialistic democracy. This program has for its purpose the establishment of conditions under which, on the one hand, every nationality independently of its freedom and the level of its development would receive an entire liberty of national development, and on the other hand, all the nations might be united in an economic and cultural collaboration. The program of the countries at war with us is characterized by their statement that: "It does not enter into the intention of the allied powers (namely, Germany, Austria, Turkey and Bulgaria) to violently incorporate the territories seized during the war." This means that the enemy countries are ready to evacuate at the peace treaty the occupied territories of Belgium, the northern Departments of France, Serbia, Montenegro, Rumania, Poland, Lithuania, Courland, in order that the subsequent destiny of the contested provinces may be decided by the population concerned itself. The step which the enemy Governments are making towards the program of the democracy under the pressure of circumstances and chiefly of their own laboring masses, lies in their renouncing new violent annexations and contributions. But in renouncing new conquests, the enemy Governments proceed from the idea that old conquests, old acts of violence of the strong over the weak are rendered sacred by historical prescription. This means that the fate of AlsaceLorraine, Transylvania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, etc., on the one hand, Ireland, Egypt, India, Indo-China, etc., on the other, are not subject to revision. Such a program is profoundly inconsistent and represents a project of an unprincipled compromise between the pretensions of imperialism and the opposition of the laboring democracy. But the very fact of the presentation of this program is an enormous step forward. The Governments of the Allied nations have hitherto not joined the peace negotiations for reasons which they have obstinately declined to exactly formulate. It is now impossible to repeat that the war is going on for the liberation of Belgium, the northern Departments of France, Serbia, etc., for Germany and her allies announce their readiness to evacuate these provinces in the event of an universal peace. Now after the presentation of peace terms by the adversary it is impossible to get off with general phrases concerning the necessity of carrying on the war to the end. It is necessary to say clearly and precisely what is the peace program of France, Italy, Great Britain, the United States. Do they demand along with us the giving of the right of self-determination to the peoples of Alsace-Lorraine, Galicia, Poznán, Bohemia, the Southern Slav provinces? If they do, are they willing on their part to give the right of self-determination to the peoples of Ireland, Egypt, India, Madagascar, Indo-China, etc., as the Russian revolution has given this right to the peoples of Finland, Ukraine, when [White] Russia, etc.? For it is clear that to demand self-determination for the peoples that are comprised within the borders of enemy states and to refuse self-determination to the peoples of their own state or of their own colonies would mean the defense of the most naked, the most cynical imperialism. If the Governments of the Allied countries were to manifest the readi |