861.00/5476: Telegram
The Commission to Negotiate Peace to the Secretary of State
[Received October 26, 1919, 7:55 p.m.]
4835. From Sta[tion] nav[al], Commissioner [at Constantinople].
424, October 23, 11 a.m. The progress of the Volunteer Army is attracting widespread attention. General Mangin, accompanied by the Russian Ambassador in Paris, Maklakoff, has arrived in Constantinople en route for Denikin’s headquarters, also a Japanese military delegation headed by Colonel Takajolochi. General Denikin is reported as having aspired to proceed vigorously to the re-constitution of the Russian Black Sea Fleet and at Sebastopol preparations are being undertaken for the execution of a naval program involving the building of one dreadnought, four cruisers, four destroyers and seven submarines. Romanoff paper money is increasing in exchange value at Odessa but is still painfully cheap at Novorossiisk. To an Armenian delegation Denikin is said to have expressed his appreciation of the loyalty of the Armenians who refused to join a Bolshevik combination of Georgians and Tartars. After capturing Moscow the General is reported as stating [Page 775] that he would give his attention to the Caucasus. Americans of discrimination in these parts strongly advocate the inclusion of Trans-Caucasia in any scheme of mandates our Government may accept in Turkey. Trans-Caucasia is an exceptionally rich country but can not govern itself without foreign guidance. There are few Russians in that section and the natives have had enough of Russian imperialism and do not cherish Muscovite control. Prominent Russians, encouraged by the French, already ask voice in the settlement of the Constantinople problem. As time goes on Russian demands are likely to grow and gather momentum. Ravndal, American Commissioner.