The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-03-09
TO FEED GERMANS WITH WIT I! 1 100 eco
TONS OF FOOD FROM THE ALLIES
Francis Has Good
Word for Kerensky
But Not Lenine & Co
By James r yourse

Washington. March s-David r.
Francis, American ambassador TO
Russia told the overman sub-com-
mittee OF the senate today that it was
at his earnest solicitation that the
United States was the first nation to
accord recognition to the kernsky
government. lie ia unalterabiy OPP
posed, however. TO giving any sort of
recognition to the government of
Lenine and Trotzky.
The ambassador gave an interesting
recital OF the flight of the allied en-
bassies to Vologd3 and later to Ar
changed when the attitude Of the
Boishevfk leaders became threaten
ing. he declared the Bolsheviks plan
ned to hold the diplomats as hostages
in the hope that this action might
force the allied countries to support
their government.
Arch Conspirators. -.
Lenine and Trotzky. in the opinion
OF Ambassador Francis have been in
the pay of Germany ever since they
began operations in Russia. keren-
sky's fatal blunder. he said, was IN
not ordering them arrested and tried
for treason when they first became
active; had this been done the
Kcrensky government would have
continued and would have been sup
ported by ali of Russia as well as by
the foreign powers which had recog-
nized It,
The story related to the committee
by Colonel Raymond Robins OF the
efforts made by American and English
officers in Russia to prevent ratifica-
ton OF the Brest Litovsk treaty and
TO keep Russia In the war against
Germany was fully corroborated by
Ambassador Francis. He said that
although he had refused to have any
transactions at all with Len!ne and
Trotzky he had sanctioned the neSo-
itiatons conducted by Colonel Robins
and had hoped they might bring aefi-
mite results
After the United States governn,en
had issued an order forbidding Red
Cross officials from being in com
munication or association with the
Bolsheviki leaders and an order TO
the same effect had been issued by
Henry r. Dawson, head of the Red
Cross the ambassador said he cahied
TO the state department advising that
Colonel Robins be permitted to con-
tinue hin negotiations. Upon one
point Mr.. Francis. testimony differs
from that of Colonel Robins. The
latter said his testimony that no
never advocated recognition OF the
Bolshevfk government. but merely
urged economic cooperation" 70 the
end that the railway lines might be
Kept open. The ambassador stated
that Colonel Robins had repeatedly
urged formal recognition of the gov
eminent by the United States
Kercnsky An Right.
kerensky's government was highly
praised by the ambassador.
He said he was delighted with the
overthrow OF the czar, that he was
tired of the empire" and believed
most OF the Russian people were tired
OF 1t. He interviewed several 4inis.
ters in the new government and salts
ned himself that the government was
founded upon correct principles and
so notified the American govern
ment. He explained that he believed
II would be very polite for the
United States to be in the first 10
recognize 1T.
The cable message advising recog-
r!tion was sent from Pe,rograd on
March 20 and two days later the state
department authorised him TO recog-
nize the government. Accompanied
by his staff he called at the ministry
and extended formal recognition with
proper ceremony.
Ambassador Francis asserted that
30 per cent OF the Russian people are
against the Bolshevik government and
that only reign OF terror Instituted by
Lenine and Trotzky enabled them to
retain control He predicted dire