861.00/6986: Telegram
The High Commissioner at Constantinople (Bristol) to the Secretary of State
354. Following from Admiral McCully, Sevastopol:
“57. June 4, 8 p.m. Following is message from British High Commissioner Constantinople to General Wrangel dated June 3d.
‘His Majesty’s Government are a great deal disquieted by rumors of your intention to take the offensive against the Bolshevik forces. I am [directed] to inform you that if you attack, his Majesty’s Government’s plans for negotiating with the White [Soviet] Government will inevitably fall through and His Majesty’s Government will be unable to concern themselves any further with the fate of your army.’
General Wrangel has left for the front to take charge personally of an offensive in the direction of Melitopol. He has not yet answered British message but his answer will be that the offensive had already begun and movement could not be recalled. In regard to General Wrangel’s attitude toward Polish it is not at all hostile and he has no plans for attacking them but on the contrary expects to cooperate with them. However there is a general uneasiness in Russian opinion regarding a too great extension of Polish advance into Russia, and Soviet Government has taken advantage of this to make it appear that fighting for the Soviets is really to reprove [repulse] a foreign invader. To combat this idea is one reason of Wrangel’s advance at this time. McCully.”
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