The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1918-08-30
j. S. CONSULATE At
PETROGRAD CLOSED
American Affairs in Charge of
Norwegian Government.
AN AMERICAN is SEIZED
Action Was Forced BY Declaration
BY Bolsheviki That State OF
War With United States
Existed.

Washington-Beca the Bolshevik
Government declared a state Of war
exists between Russia and the United
States, Vice Consul Imbrie has low
cred the United States flag over the
consulate at Petrograd, closed the
consulate and placed the affairs OF
the United States in charge of the
Norwegian Government.
Americans in Petrograd, of whom
there are approximately 20, have been
warned to leave the country by the
vice consul. Their houses were
searched, one of them is under ar
rest and one is in hiding.
This information reached the State
Department from Mr. Imbrie in tele-
gram dated August 2. The consul said
until he received instructions from
the State Department he swould re-
main in Petrograd.
1t is thought here that this incident
may have resulted from the situation
that arose in Moscow at about the
same time and which caused Consul
General Poole to close the American
Consulate in Moscow. At that time
after Lenine, the Bolshevik Premier,
had declared a state of war existed
with the British and French Govern
ments, Tchitcherin, the Foreign Min
lister explained that 1t rather was a
Estate of Defense" on the part of
Russia.
In order to coordinate the efforts of
the Allies, and the United States in
Russia, an official dispatch from
France says it has been decided to
create two international councils, one
at Archangel, including the Entente
ambassadors under the presidency of
American Ambassador Francis, and
the other at Vladivostok, to be COM
posed of five high officials.
On the Vladivostok council Great
Britain will be represented by Sir
Charles Eliot; France by Eugene Reg
nault, former Ambassador to Japan,
and Japan by Mr.. Matsudaira. 1t was
said at the State Department that an
American representative had not been
named.
These councils, it is understood,
will act as diplomatic representatives
in dealing with the independent Rus
sian governments in Siberia and on
the Murmansk Coast, and pave the
way for the great economic and in
dustrial commissions organizing to
aid in the rehabilitation of Russia.
The councils will relieve the mill
tary leaders operating from Vladivo-
stok and in the Archangel territory
of all non-military work.
The chief work of these councils
at first will be to aid in the re-estab-
lishment of civil government in
regions now entirely disorganized as
result of Bolshevism.
Ambassador Francis, who is to pre-
side over the work of the Archangel
commission as dean of the diplomatic
corps there, has not yet reported to
the State Department the details or
the undertaking. Until a representa-
tive OF the sUnited States on the
Vladivostok council is appointed,
American Consul Caldwell there will
serve.
Whether the Americans in Petro-
grad will be able to escape was doubt
full, it was said, despite the recent
agreement with the Finnish Govern
ment whereby Americans leaving Rus
STA might have safe passage through
Finland. officials here pointed out
that the Films would be unable to
protect Americans against German
officials and soldiers who are now in
control of Finland