Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-08-23
AMERICANS IN DANGER
rs WAR IS DECLARED
Consulate at Pctrograd Is Closed,
and Affairs Turned Over to
Norwegian Consul.
HOLD INTERNATIONAL COUNCILS
One Is Named for Vladivostok and
Another for Archangel, With AM
bassador Francis, Because OF Sc.
nfority, the Presiding Official.
HOLD INTERNATIONAL COUNCILS
fBv Associatedpress

WASHINGTON. August 90. Dis
patches from Russia to-day were of a
somewhat disturbing nature to State
Department officials. Vice Consul Rob
ert w. lmbrle, ut Petrograd, reported
In delayed dispatch that members of
the Bolshevik government mt the for
mer Russian capital had issued pro
nunciamento. declaring that n state Of
war existed between Russia and the
United States.
In view OF the Bolshevik declaration,
lmbrie reported In his dispatch, which
was dated August ., that he had low
cred the United States flag over tho
consulate and. following the recent
action of Consul-General Poole at Mos
COW, closed the consulate and turned
over the affairs of the United States
10 the Norwegian consul. Americans
twenty, were warned to leave. Consul
lmDries dispatch said. although the
consul indicated that he would re-
instructions from the State Depart
ment.
Announcement in n dispatch from
ternational councils. one at Archangel
and the other at Yladivostok, however.
eoun'ero ooms roD,line, ro6alanesd the unfayorable
petrosrad. Ambassador Francis, as
dean Of the diplomatic corps, will act
as the presiding officer OF the Arch
which Will be. the diplomatic repre-
sentatives Of the allied nations. The
personnel of the Vladivostok council
will be represented " Sir Charles Ell
lott; Japan by Mr. Matsudaira, and
i.pa france padn by , Eugene Regnault. Consul
until President Wilson desisnates n
representative.
AMERICANS PERSECUTED
WHILE IN PETROGRAD
Persecution OF the few Americans in
pltetrogIad for the ten days prior to the
dispatch OF Consul -mbries cablegram.
made State Department officials ap-
prehensive as 10 their safety. Officials
regard 1t rs evident that further mes
sages from the consul have been held
up by the Bolsheviki.
The reference in Consul Imbrie's dis
patch to declaration of war against
The United States by the Bolshevik au-
thoritics, however, was regarded most
seriously by officials. It was suggest
Trot2ky at Moscow late in July, in
which he declared that state of war
existed between Russia and Great
which Foreign Minister Tchitcaerin
modified. in response to an inquiry by
Consul-General Poole. to a state of de-
basis for the latest development I'm Pc
trosrad: 1t was thought that upon re-
ceipt or the report OF Trotzky's speech,
terpreted II as they saw fit and issued
the Petrograd Bolshevik authorities in :
their declaration of war against the
United States.
Reports received by the State De-
partment via Amsterdam to-day. told
of the soldiers OF the Russian garrison
at Krasnoye Selo, near Petrograd.
their own commander. Colonel Marcn
1t Is charged the latter advised the
men to combine to overthrow tho gov
ernment.
Dispatches from Stockholm tell or
the Bolshevik troop; advancing along
the Omega river, where the allied forces
are operating, and capturing the VIII
lage of Pusgasovo.
According to Wa Department fig
ures, the United States now has two
1mli regiments at Fladivostok. the
day.