The Robesonian., 1918-08-26
BOLSHEVIK GOVERNMENT
DECLARES WAR ON u. 8
U. S. Flag Lowered Over Consulate
at Petrograd--Americans Warn.
ed to Leave.

reported in a delayed dispatch re-
ceived at the State Department in
Washington Thursday that members
of the Bolsheviki government at the
former Russian capital had issued a
pronunciamento declaring that a state
Of war existed between Russia and
the United State.
In view of the Bolshevik declara-
ton Mr.. Imbrie reported in his dis
patch, whic hwas dated August 2. that
he had lowered the United States flag
over the consulate and following the
recent action of Consul General Poole
at Moscow closed the consulate and
turned over the affairs of the United
States to the Norwegian consul.
Americans in Petrograd, believed to
number about 20, were warned to
leave, the dispatch said, although the
consul indicated that he would remain
at his post until he had received in
structions from the State Department.
Announcement in a dispatch from
France of the appointment of two in
, ternational councils, one at Archangel
and the other at Vladivosstok, how
ever, counterbalanced the unfavorable
news contained in the dispatch from
Petrograd. Ambassador Francis as
dean OF the diplomatic corps will act
as the presiding officer of the Arch
angel council, the other members of
which will be the diplomatic repre-
sentatives of the allied nations. The
personnel of the Vladivostok council
is not yet complete. Great Britain
will be represented by Sir Charles
Eliot as high commissioner at Vladi.
vostok; Japan by Mr.. Matsudara, ano
France by Eugene Regnault. Consu
Caldwell will be the American mem
ber until President Wilson designate:
a representative.
Persecution of the few Anne can.
in Petrograd for the ten days priol
to the dispatch Of Consul Imbrie's ca
blegram made State Department off
cials apprehensive as to their safety
Officials regard it as evident that fur
ther messages from the consul hav,
been held up by the Bolsheviki.
The reference in Consul Imbrie'
dispatch to declaration of wa
against the United States by the Bol
j, sheviki authorities, however, was re
garded most seriously by officials. ]
was suggested that the speech Of Min
lister of War Trotzky at Moscow lat
in July in which he declared that
state Of war existed between Russi
: and Great Britain and France an
their allies and which Foreign Minis
ter Tchitcherin modified, in respons
to an inquiry by Consul General Poole
to state Of defense against the Al
, lies was the real basis for the lates
development in Petrograd. 1t wa
thought that upon receipt of the re
port Of Trotzky's speech the Petre
, grad Bolshevik authorities interprete
> it as they saw fit and issued their dec
laration Of war against the Unite
, States.
! Whether the Americans in Petrs
!, grad will be able to escape was doubi
; full, it was said, despite the rcce-
+ agreement with the Finnish govern
. ment whereby Americans leaving Ru.
' sia might have safe passage throug
Finland. Officials pointed out that tk
Firms would be unable to protet
! Americans against German officia
y and soldiers who are now in contr'
= in Finland.
The announcement by Secretary B;
ker Thursday of the arrival Of IL
31st regiment regulars, infantry, ;
VladlVOStOk, brings Cne mlilLary rel
resentation of the United States
O that port to two full regiments, Il
!; arrival Of the 9th infantry havir
y been announced several days ag
- Secretary Baker said Maj. VIM.
. Graves, who is to command the -Alne
+ lean contingent, had not yet arrived
: Vladivostok.
Re-establishment of civil COVER,
4 ment at Vladivostok and Archang
" will be the first task of the intern
). tional councils, it was said by oficla
- at Washington, who pointed out tn
- such action at Vladivostok would q
" low the military commands to devo
:. themselves exclusively to clearing Il
region of IrkutsE and the Pacific
IS IS CSC cures Headaches, Biliou
a ness, Loss of Appetite, foul brea5