The Washington herald., 1919-03-09
FRANCIS CALLS
RUSS DICTATORS
GERMAN AGENTS
Tells Senate Committee
Both Lenine and Trotzky
Are in Hun Pay.
ROBINS FAVORED REDS
Ambassador Says Chicago
Man Favored Recogni-
ton Of Bolshevists.

David r. Francis. American Am
bassador TO Russia, told the over
man subcommittee Of the sep<t.
yesterday that it was at his earnest
solicitation that the United States
was the first nation TO accord rec
ognition TO the Kerensky govern
meht He is UBaltersbIy opposed 20
giving any sort Of recognition TO
the government OF Lenine and
Trotzky.
The ambassador gave an interest
ing recital OF the flight OF the allied
embassies to Vologda and later 10
Archangel when the attitude Of the
Bolsheyik leaders became threaten
ing. He declared the BolshevIks
planned TO hold the diplomats as
hostages in the hope that this action
might force tho allied countries 20
support their government
Leaders German Agents.
Lenine and Trotzky. in the opin-
ion Of the ambassador. have been in
the pay OF Germany ever since they
began orcratiOns in Russia Keren-
sky's fEJal blUUder. he said. was in
not ordering them arrested and tried
for treason when they first became
active: had this been done the Er-
Tcnsky government would have con-
tiuued and would have been sun
ported by all OF Russia as well a.
by the foreign powers which had
recognized IT,
The story related to the committee
by Col. Raymond Robins OF the efforts
made by American and English Of
cisls in Russia to prevent ratification
OF the Brest-Ldtovsk treaty and TO
keep Russia in the war against Ger
many was fully corroborated by Am
baSsador Francis. He said that. al
though he had refused TO have any
transactions at all with Lenine and
Trotsky, he had sanctioned the naeo-
tiations conducted by Col Robins
and had hoped they might bring deh-
mite results.
Disputes One Statement
After The United States government
had issued an 'ordert forbiddinr Red
Cross officials from being in CON
munication or association with the
Bolshevik leaders. and an order TO the
same effect had been ntissued by Henry
p. Dawson. head Of the Red Gross.
the Ambassador said he cabIed TO the
Stale Department advising that Col
Robins be permitted 10 continue his
negotiations.
i'poH one point Ambassador Francis
testimony differed from that Of Col.
Robins. The latter said in his testi-
mony that he never advocated rccnz-
milton OF IN. Bolshpvik government.
but merely urged economic Coopera-
ton" 10 the end that the railwaE
lines might be kept open. The Am
bassador stated that Col Robins re-
Peatedly had urged formal recoEni-
tion Of tho government by the United
States.
kerenSk's government was highly
praised by the ambassador He said
that he waS delighted with tn.
overthrow Of the Gar. that hc ysS
tired OF the empire" and believed
most Of the Russian people wSrl
tired OF II. He interviewed several
OF the ministers in the new govern
ment and satisfied himself that the
government was founded upon cor
rect principles and so notified the
American government. He explain
ed that he believed IL would be VERY
polite" for the United States TO
be the first to recognize IT,
The cable message advising rccoE-
milton was sent from PetroErsd on
March 20. and two days later the
CONTINUED on PAGE -FOUR.