File No. 861.00/952
The Ambassador in Russia (Francis) to the Secretary of State
[Received January 15, 8.53 a.m.]
2227. Letter from Jenkins1 of 8th, received 12th by our official courier, reports France appointed General Tabouis commissioner to Ukrainian government and with other consuls Jenkins received formal notice thereof from the commissioner. Press generally considers such action recognition of Ukrainian republic; French Ambassador here concurs but said action was from Paris direct not through Petrograd.
British Embassy told me, 10th, had only consular agent at Kiev; Jenkins reports British Consul General, Odessa, transferred to Kiev.
Reports relation between the Rumanian and Russian troops bad at the front and Kerth2 who returned from Stavka to-day says heard confidentially that Krylenko had ordered Russian troops to leave Rumanian front January 10, supposedly Russian calculation.
Jenkins not called officially on the Minister of Foreign Affairs fearing might embarrass me here; gave him discretionary [power] when sending him there.
Jenkins interviewed French Chief of Staff who said immediate aim of the French was to offset Austrian influence in Ukraine and from Kiev to gradually work into the interior; there seems, though, be little expected of the Ukrainian army for six months if at all as discipline destroyed; that Minister of War friendly to Allies had resigned and succeeded by lawyer who former Minister of Labor but whose plans unknown; that Minister of Railways, Minister of Posts and Telegraphs, and Assistant Minister of Agriculture also resigned but successors not named.
Jenkins reports that land question which threatened division in Ukraine been referred to special commissioners of various political parties and thus temporarily quieted; that money scarce, unobtainable, and Rada provided for issuance of Ukrainian money now being printed in same denominations as Russian hut printed in Ukrainian, Russian, and possibly Yiddish (basis of issue unmentioned); that government issued an order requiring every business concern to deposit 75 per cent of cash received in government bank which was formerly Kiev branch of Russian State Bank; that private banks not nationalized as are here and will not be.
[Page 657]Jenkins reports Poles very active; leaders held a meeting to arrange for help from the Allies; Jenkins invited, wisely declined attending, but expressed a desire for information about action taken.
Jenkin’s letter excellent but gives no detailed answer to your 1931, December 24,1 which telegraphed him in cipher but Summers ordered him to leave code Moscow where thought be needed more than Kiev. Have telegraphed Summers send Jenkins cipher immediately.
Morning papers reported one-hour session Brest yesterday resulting in Ukrainian delegation’s being admitted as representing separate government with Trotsky and Kühlmann concurring.
[For a detailed report on the political, military, financial, and economic conditions in the Ukraine, see despatch from the Consul General at Moscow, dated January 14, 1918, Volume I, page 338.]
- For the status of the Consul at Kiev, see ante, p. 649.↩
- Lieut. Col. Monroe C. Kerth, representative of the U. S. Army at the Stavka, or Russian Army headquarters.↩
- Vol. i, p. 324.↩