The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-08-03
Official Washington Declares It Is
Well to Be Prepared for
the Worst.
EXPECT TROUBLE ANY TINE
American Ambassador Francis, as
Spokesman for Diplomats, Al.
legged to Have Refused to Go
to Moscow.

AhCuIo Auy UC AoASou ~ 1ny AnOAASNS
by the attitude of the former was adj
mitted here. For the present every
possible measure is being taken to
prevent 1t. However, the general at
titude of the Lenine-Trotzky control Is
such that officials say 1t Is well to be
prepared for the worst.
In this connection the state depart
ment was making all possible efforts
to secure the exact details Of the rea-
sons for the departure Of Ambassador
David r. Francis and the other diplo-
mats from vologda for Kandalaska,
Lapland, and whether 1t is true that
they were ordered to leave Archangel
when they reached that port.
Certain reports have reached here,
officials say, but for the present they
are withheld, and 1t Is desired that all
Of the facts shall be obtained before
any official statement Is made.
Refused to Go to Moscow.
The reports reaching diplomatic cir
cles here, are that the bolsheyik gov
eminent was incensed because Ambas-
sador Francis, as the spokesman for
the other diplomats who were with him
In vologda, refused It's invitation to
tsolne to Moscow. The invitation, 1t
il known here. was extended as the
result Of German influences. Just why
the German and Austrian authorities
wanted the other diplomats to come to
! sfoeeom 4 bet flzily iinown here. One
report. however. states that the Aus
tro-German diplomats had claimed that
Trancis and his associates We're aid
Ing the Czecho- Slovak movement and
they had cited the Fourth of July
speech Of Ambassador Francis as proof
of that fact. Il
In any event. when Mr.. Francis de-
clined to 60 to Moscow conditions de-
veloped at Vologda which made 1t nee
essary for him and his associates to
leave. They started for Archangel
and according to the reports received
here In Washington when they reached
Archangel they were refused permits
sion by the soviet there to remain, but
were placed on two small Russian yes.
sells on which they started for Kan
dalaska, in LaplanG where they are
now supposed to be.
Never Officially Recognized.
officials are in no way fearful for
the safety of Ambassador Francis
and his associates. There will be no
representations to the bolsheviki on
their behalf. AS a matter of fact at
tention again was called to the fact
that the present government of Russia
never has been officially recognized by
any Of the entente governments or by
the United States. The nearest ap-
proach to recognition was certain cor
respondence which Francis had with
Trotzky and throughout 1t the fact
was made plain that 1t did not in.
.volve recognition. American and al.
lied interests, however, could very cas-
lily be menaced should the bolshevik
government SO desire and situation
might be precipitated which would
compel action for their protection.
/: Organizing "Army Of Defense"
The bolshevlk government at the
present time Is organizing a new army
according to advices reaching here
Designated as an "army of Defense
1t Is designed to cope with the grow
ing revolutionary movements through
out Russia. A large part of 1t is sale
to be ready to initiate an expedition
against the Czecho-Slovaks who con
troll a great part Of the trans-Siberiar
railway and the territory adjoining it
Should this be done and allied aid lr
/ the form OF munitions, rifles and wal
! supplies be furnished by the allies ant
the United States to the Czecho-Slo
vaks state ofwar with the bolshevik
would Immediately prevail, Lenine ant
/ Trotzky, official dispatches reaching
here say, have ordered wholesale ar
rests everywhere In Russia of their po
litical opponents In an effort to breat
down all opposing revolutionary move
ments. This action, however, has fail
ed Of Its object.
No Word From Francis.
Acting Secretary Of State Polk stated
that the department was without an,
word from Ambassador Francis. HI
har received report via channe
1 which was not made public that tn,
diplomatic corps at vologda had beer
warned that they could not be affordet
complete protection after July %. I
, is assumed here that this was part o