File No. 763.72/8684
The Ambassador in France (Sharp) to the Secretary of State
[Received January 29, 5.46 a.m.]
3106. Following joint telegram dated Jassy, January 27, from Ministers of United States, France, Great Britain and Italy:
At the request of the Russian Minister we have conferred with General Shcherbachev1 who himself had called a meeting with the Rumanian Chief of Staff. He declared to us that the Ukrainian delegation had [informed] him that according to a recent telegram from Kiev, the Ukraine had concluded peace to take effect within eight to ten days. He asked us to intervene to force the Ukraine to gain time; we replied that the Allied representatives at Kiev are neglecting no [effort] but that according to their information the state of opinion renders the pacifist current more and more irresistible. We added that whatever may be the attitude of the Ukraine we count on the fidelity of its [his?] cooperation. He assured us that in no case would he take part in a peace with the enemies of the Entente. To prevent the Russian troops placed under his command and a large proportion forming part of the Ukrainian front being automatically included in the peace which Ukraine may make, it was decided that, seizing the opportunity of the troubles at Galatz, General Shcherbachev should issue an order to his army reminding it of his rank of commander in chief of all soldiers on the Rumanian front without distinction of origin. General Shcherbachev and, above all, General Prezan called our attention to the untenable position of the language of the Rumanian Chief of Staff; was all the more striking that till now his optimism has remained unchangeable. Imminence [of peace] has aggravated the pacifist movement which has spread to official circles, public opinion, and even the army. Furthermore, the fact that even the anticipated sending of Czech divisions no longer appears possible, gives the impression of total and definite isolation. We shall spare no effort to counteract this current but on the one hand Russian events and on the other the [Page 665] impossibility of all direct help from the Allied powers renders the situation here inextricable and without precedent. In fact it cannot be compared to that of Belgium and Serbia who are in immediate contact with the Allied powers.
- Commander of the Russian Army on the Rumanian front.↩