861.00/4344: Telegram
The Commission to Negotiate Peace to the Acting Secretary of State
[Received April 22, 1919, 1 a.m.]
1729. From [Ravndal at] Constantinople.
April 19, 3 p.m. Following from Jenkins now Constantinople.
“The members of the former Russian Imperial family evacuated by British from Crimea left Constantinople April 17th, Dowager Empress going on battleship Marlborough to England, Grand Dukes Nicholas and Peter with families going to Italy on battleship Lord Nelson. They plan to live quietly at Genoa. Grand Duchess Xenia, sister of Emperor, also her daughter and son-in-law, Princess and Prince Yusupoff, are with party.
With the exception of Sevastopol and possibly Kertch practically all of Crimea as well as all the north coast of Sea of Azof including Mariupol important coal port of Donetz Basin held by Bolsheviks. There is no telegraph communication with Rostoff or any towns in North Caucasus. Novorossiisk reported terribly congested; typhus prevalent. Pending instructions am sending Vice Consul Burri there to obtain first-hand information and to endeavor locate Vice Consul Doolittle from whom nothing has been heard for three weeks.”
American Mission