Evening journal., 1918-08-23
RnI eHEuIK WAR
DULUllLvIu VIII
IS DISCOUNTED
Official Announcement OF
Lenine Action Comes
From Petrograd
UNITED STATES FLAG
is HAULED DOWN

WASHINGTON. Aug. 23.---A state o
war between Russia ard the UniteC
STATS hiss been declared by the Bol
gbsylk.. according % an official des
batch received at the State Department
from Robert W. Imbrle, American Con-
sui a. petrograd
Mr.. ifabries despatch ls dated August
z bur mas lust reached here He re
porss ;hst as soon as The Bolshevlk
Eovsnment declared that state OF
wr existed between Russia and the
cnitsd States ne lowered the United
States flag over the consulate Petro-
grad, closed the consulate and placed
this governments affairs in charge OF
the Norwegian government.
Coincident with the declaration OF
war series Of affronts and lndignities
wsrs perpetuated against Americans In
Petrograd. OF which there were for
tunatsy only about twenty. The houses
Of the Americans were sesrched, prop
srsy was destroyed and one American
was arrested. All citizens OF The United
States have been warned TO leave Pc
trograd
Officials here do not take the social
ed declaration of war against the
United States by tho Bolsheiki very
seriously because It Is fully realized
hat the BOlsheivkl leaders do not rep
:esent the Russian peOpe and are per-
haps acting as agents OF Germany in
his, as in other cases.
u is not quite clear to ofllslals here
whether the Bolsheviki leaders have
r have not withdrew their war de-
rf . 4sshl H. I'm
brle's despatch was sent. 10 was about
that time that American Consul-Gen-
eral Poole at Moscow closed the Amer
lean Consulate after Nlcholai Lcnlne.
the Bolsheviki Premier, had declared
that state Of war existed between
Russia and the British and French.
Foreign Minister Tschltcherin of the
Bolshevik, when asked for an explana-
tion, said "a state Of defence" rather
than a state OF war had been declared.
Reports also wore published that a
state OF w9r against Japan mas been
declared, but no one has been able TO
make head or tail Of the embrogliO, and
many officials do not believe it really |
matters whether Lenlne had declared |
war or not
The United States Government, to
yether with the Entente Governments |
md the Governments Of Japan and /
China. is continuing its plan to reach |
md help the Russian people against the /
combination Of German and Bolshevlh
influence Of the Lenine brand.
Secretary Of War Baker announced
that the Thlrty-flrst Regi-
nent of United States regular troops
lad arrived at Vladivostok from Manila.
rhe 1NHenty-eighth is already there,
md the additional troops from the /
United States will be there shortly to-
yether with Maior-Gen. Graves, who /
will have command Of the American
forces on Russian soil Meanwhile an |
important international move looking ]
10 coordinate the efforts OF the Al
fsss- and the United States in Russia
has begun. IL has been decided to es-
Iabllsh two international councils, one
1t Archangel and the other at Vladi- !
iosiok.
The council OF Vladlvostak will be
made up Of 1--WE high officials, Sir,
Charles Eliot will represent Great Brit
ln, Eugene Regnoult, former Ambas-
ador to Japan. viii represent France,
nd Japan will be represented by Mr..
The American representa-
i've has not yet been named.
The council at Archangel will be pre-
ided over by David r. Francis, Ameri- ;
an Ambassador to Russia. He is dean
4 the diplomatic corps there. The En-
enie nations will be represented by
heir respective Ambassadors at the
ouncil Until an American represen-
ative is named for the Vladivostok
ouncil American Consul Caldwell will
lave charge Of this nations interests.
Reports have not vet been received