File No. 861.00/2681
The Ambassador in Russia (Francis) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 13, 9.14 a.m.]
397. The Zemstvos of Archangel Province met yesterday and invited Allied diplomats to attend. As dean I spoke. I had prepared speech, which, after thanking Zemstvos for invitation, drifted into speech of American Ambassador. Colleagues on reading same requested that I eliminate American Ambassador and deliver speech for Allied representatives which I did.
I stated we realized the condition of Russia and did not recognize Brest or Ukraine treaties, and trusted patriotic Russians did not, as they were disgraceful and insulting and dismembered Russia and had for their object making Russia a German province, which elicited hearty applause. Attention was then called to civil strife in Russia, to idleness of industries, and paralysis of commerce, proceeding:
And that is not all. There is suffering from hunger in this land of plenty. You have produced ample for the necessities of your own people and can do so again. Armed German and Austrian prisoners and armed Bolsheviks under command of German and Austrian officers have prevented this section of Russia from getting food from those sections which produced an abundance. Allied forces have come within your borders with the sole intention of remedying this [Page 536] deplorable situation. The Allied countries have already en route to Archangel ships laden with provisions and are able and planning to send more to relieve the threatened famine and to clothe those who would otherwise suffer from the rigors of a northern winter. Your surplus products such as flax and lumber and sugar-beet seed and ores and other articles which you can give in exchange [sic].