New-York tribune., 1918-08-15

the Entente missions may find them
selves in a better situation.
The story is told IN sequence in the
State Departments official announce
ment Of its advices from Mr.. Poole. 1t
follows:
"The Department .of State has now
received several kilograms from Con-
sui General Poole at Moscow concern
ing recent events in that city Follow
ing is summary Of them:
"One of the kilograms similar in
character to a previous message re-
ceived through other channels states
that on July 20 Lenine announced to
the Soviets that a state of war existed
between the Russian Republic and the
Allied powers. Because of this the
diplomatic representative in Moscow of
Great Britain and the consular repre-
sentatives of France, Italy and the
United States visited the Commissariat
for Foreign Affairs and inquired if Lee
mines declaration should not be con-
sidered a declaration of war, involving
the rupture of de facto relations and
the departure of the consuls.
"Tchitcherin said that it need not be
so understood; that it was state of
defence rather than a state of war and
that the government desired to con-
tnue its relations with the Entente as
IL did with Germany under analogous
circumstances.
The cOnsuls demanded that to be ac-
ceptable any explanation must be pub
licly made by the head of the govern
ment himself They also pointed out
that the question was inseparable from
that of the departure of the members
Of the former military mission. After
having agreed to facilitate the depart
ure of these persons. in accordance
with international law. the government.
they said, has raised absolutely mad
missible objections. The foreign rep
resentatlves also stated that they could
not see in this attitude anything but
confirmation of Lenine's declaration of
the existence Of a state of war.
Tchitcherin said that he would give a
reply within three days
"On the night of August = a reply
was received from Tchitcherin. It
stated that, inasmuch as Lenine's utter
ances were made behind closed doors in
meeting at which an agent of the AL
lies could be present only owing to a
special courtesy on the part of the
Soviet government, public explanations
could not be given about nor public ut
terances. AS to the members of the
military missions, Tchitcherin said that
negotiations had been begun with the
German authorities to procure safe
passage from Petrograd to Stockhol I'm
for these officers, passage through
Archangel being impossible because
British cruisers had already begun the
bombardment of the islands covering
Archange{
"A third report from Consul General
Poole refers to the arrests of British
and French citizens at Moscow. On the
afternoon of August there was con-
ference between Tchitcherin and the
consuls general of Japan, Sweden and
the United States, with the following
RESULTS:
"First-The Soviet government gave
solemn assurances that Allied persons
having diplomatic or official character
would not be molested
"Second-Tchitche stated that the
Allied military missions would not be
allowed to depart, as had already been
promised.
"Third-That civil persons arrested
were hostages for the lives of Soviet
members in territory occupied by the
Allies.
Itch tcherin said that these persons
are civil prisoners arrested, in accord
ance with the practices Of war, for in
ternment. He added that no RESPONSE
bility would be assumed for their fut-
ure safety, because Great Britain and
France had attacked Archangel without
a declaration of war.
"Mr. Poole stated that he was with