The Hawaiian gazette., 1918-08-16

On July 29 Premier Lenine declared
repeatedly before an Official gathering
of the SOviets that O state of war ex
listed between the Russian republic
and the Allied powers. A diplomatic
representative Of Great I Britain and
consular Representatives Yof France,
Italy and the United states Inquired
sof ne Sosnnlissafiat OF fSrsIgi q tEhirs
If LeniBess declaration should ndi ye
considered declaration of war irlt
.volying the de facto relations and the
departure of the cOnsuls. Minister
Tchitcherii said such need mot besso,
that LRnine's declarations referred to
a state of defense rather than a state
of war. and the government desired to
continue relations with the Entente
powers az it did with Germany in
analogous circumstances.
The ronsuls demanded that this ex,
planation must be made public by the
head Of the government.
Publicity Refused
Three days later, August >, Tchit
cherin replied that inasmuch as Le
mines utteranres were behind closed
doors, at u meeting at which an agent
Of the Allies was present only by spe
ciaI courtesy on the part Of the So
Wet government, public explanation
could not be given about a non npubhc
utterance.
Held AS Hostages
In his third report Consul Poole re.
fers to the arrests of British and
French citizens in Moscow. On August
3, at u conference between Minister
ri, . la Ernpnral -
Sweden, Japan, the United States and
France, the Soviet government gave
its solemn assurance that Allied per
sons having diplomatic or unofficial
character would not he mOlested,
Tchitcbrrin said these persons were
civil prisoners, arrested in aceOrda nee
with the practises of war for intern
Inent. He added that no responsible
" could be assumed for the future
safety of such persons because Great
Britain and France had already at
tackled Archangel without declara-
tiOn of war.
Soviet oficial Warned
United States Consul Poole replied
that he was without knowledge Of what
had taken place in the north but he
warned Tchitcherin that the people of
the Allied nations could not be in
timidated and the initiation of sys-
tenn of reprisals by the Soviet govern
ment could only result in individual
members of the government being held
responsible personally, and IN the loss
bv the BOlshcviki of whatever res
, pert it might now be accorded in the
minds of the civilized world.
The fourth message Of Poole is dat
ed August q and SAYS that the state
authorities at Moscow had forcibly en-,
tered the cOnSulates- general of France
and England on August ), arrested the
! consuls general and their stats but
released the untiring good Offices OF
the Swedish consul general.
Consuls Are Departing
Guards around the consulates would
| not permit British and French sub
| iects to approach them. Feeling nc
! assurances that the American consu
late would not he violated at any
moment Poole destroyed the codes and
records. This made il impossible Il
carry on the functions of the cOnsu
and Poole asked the Swedish consu
general to take over the protection OF
! the American interests, at the >ami
timc requesting the facilities of tho
Soviet government for immediate lie
parturc of the American diplomatic
md consular staff.
The Allied consuls are doing like
wise, he reports All steps are heln!
taken for the security Of private
American citizens. They have not been
moested 40 far. Poole said his depar
ture would probably be 10y way o