The sun., 1918-09-15
S0VIETS TRIED
TO TRAP ENJOYS
Threats Made to Entente
Diplomats After Promise
of Freedom.
AMERICANS PUT IN JAIL
BOlshevik Leaders, Prompted
by Germans, Sought to OBJ
tain Concession.
l AMERICANS PUT IN JAIL
By the Assoctdted PSess.

STOCKHOLM, Sept. IS (delayed).-
Events In Russia which Immediately
preceded the surrender OF Entente allied
interests in Soviet Russia to the Minis
ters Of neutral countries were presented
to the outside world chiefly through Bo!-
,yhevik and German mediums. The En-
tente consuls were without communica-
tion with their Governments and conse-
quently their side of the case was not
fully stated during the crucial days OF
early August, when conditions became
80 unsettled that they decided 1t was
necessary to place the lives and property
of their nationals under the protection Of
neutrals.
The real break began July 20. when
Premier Lenine declared in a Moscow
speech:
I'VE are at war with the Anglo-French
imperialists"
Posters reiterating similar statements
were displayed all over Moscow and
great uneasiness was felt by all the
Entente citizens because of the threats
made in the Bolshevik press against
them.
Entente Consul Alarmed.
The Entente Consuls asked Foreign
Minister Tchitcherin II the Soviet Gov
ernment regarded itself at war with the
Entente Allies and told him that Premier
Lenine's statement must necessarily he
regarded as a declaration Of war unless
! 1t was officially denied. After consider
able delay Tchitcherin replied:
"The Soviet Government is not max
ing war on the peoples of the allied
countries and does not recognize inter.
| national law"
| On August the French and British
| Consuls and their STATS and many mem.
bers OF the military missions OF the two
countries we're arrested with about zoe
| British and French civilians. including
many women. on August the Consuls
and other officials were released. but
the citizens were held
Being unable to communicate with
their home governments. and being un-
certain OF their freedom. the Entente
Consuls Immediately turned their affairs
over to the representatives OF neutra
countries and asked for their passports
Later they also asked permission fol
their nationals to leave. In the mean
time some Englishmen and Frenchmer
were released and others we're arrested
Envoys Held Prisoners.
Minister Tchitcherin then agreed tc
let the Entente officials and citizens de-
part II Maxim Litvinofr. the Bolshevii
representative In London, was permitted
to leave England, but he delayed ant
proposed new conditions repeatedly
Finally he refused fatly to permit tn,
British and French to go. notwithstand
ing the insistence OF the neutral diplo
mats.
Norman Armour, secretary In charg,
OF the American Legation at Vologda
was arrested there and taken to Moscow
under guard. Roger f. Simmons. for
ester connected with the American
Bureau OF Forestry and carrying al
American diplomatic passport. was ar
rested at Vologda and transferred to {
Moscow prison, where he was held In
communicate two weeks before being re
leased. These were the only Americana
| arrested before the American. ItaliaI
and Belgian party left Moscow on Au
gust 26.
Not more than fifty native born Amer
leans are now left In Soviet Russia
Most OF these have resided there 70
many years and are unwilling to leav
the country. The Americans were no
ordered out by Dewitt c. Poole, tn
American Consul-General. but wer
given an opportunity to leave.
1, STOCKHOLM. Sept. t.-Bolshevil
forces, according to kilograms receive'
to-day from Moscow. are reported L
have captured simbirsk. on the Rive
Voiga, l05 miles southwest Of kasan.
Their cavalry is pursuing the counte
revolutionary forces.
4 n