Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-03-08


Washington, March 8-Ambassador
David B. Francis, who went to Russia
in March, 1916, and represented the
United States at Petrograd and tenn
porary headquarters, until the Allied
and American diplomats departed
from territory controlled by the Boil
the senate committee investigating
lawless propaganda.
Beginning with his arrival at Pet
rograd when there was no whisper of
the coming overthrow of the czar,
Mr.. Francis explained that his mis-
sion primarily was to negotiate a
new commercial treaty to replace the
titude toward travelling American
citizens of Jewish birth. He told how
the foreign minister informed him
that nc, treaties would be negotiated
until Russia's relations with the AL
lies were further defined and how
shortly thereafter the conclusion Of
a treaty between Japan and Russia
the American ambassador was that
only commercial treaties had been
referred to in the conversation with
him. tsE 4. T.
Mr. Francis said he found the Ger
mans so strongly entrenched in Rus
sia that they could not have been dis
lodged in years. Even the war had
not broken their control over Russian
territory.
Mr.. Francis said there was not the
slightest doubt in his mind that Le-
nine was from the beginning an agent
of the German government
THE Germans never would have
permitted him to come through Ger
many had they not known he would
10 n N tHo hns 4 ~
declared. Moreover, Lenine disbursed
large amounts of money. l believe,
however, that Lenine was even more
concerned about starting worldwide
revolution than he vas about further
ing the interests of Germany. He
later not only permitted but encour-
aged the reign of terror which still
Ambassador Francis described
events preceding and Immediately fol-
lowing the overthrow of the car and
| the ascension to power of Kerensky.
He said he believed Kerensky made
his big mistake when he failed to ar
rest and try for treason both Lenine
and Trotzky when the pair first ap-
peared as factors in the political sit
uation. His personal opinion founded
upon intimate knowledge of cQpdi-
| tons, he said, was that Lenine ac-
tually was the brains Of the Bolshe-
visit movement, that he was fanatic,
but at the same time held some sin
cere ideas.
Trotzky was described as being
purely an adventurer who was dom
mated by Lenine whenever the pair
were in disagreement on any subject.
Both. he said. were usurpers and did
not represent ten per cent Of the Rus
sian people.
The Kerensky government, the am
bassador asserted, really stood for law
and order, and did its best under try
ing conditions to set up a stable dem
ocratic government. All during the
Kerensky regime, Mr. Francis said,
the Bolshevists were trying to under
mine the government and they were
given considerable assistance by
monarchist advocates and the black
hundred. These sympathizers with
the monarchy thought that it might
be restored should the Bolshevists
come into power because they be-
lieved the Bolshevists would only last
a short time and then the entire rev.
olution could be overthrown in favor
of monarchy.
The ambassador said it was upon
his recommendation that he was al
ways advised by the state department
to recognize the provisional govern.
ment after the overthrow of the car;
and he added that he established no
relations with the Bolshevist govern
ment. but on the contrary he advised
the state department constantly that
the Bolshevists should not be recog-
nized. He described the Bolshevists
as having two objects in view, when
they seized the government; one was
to establish what they termed the
rule OF the proletariat and the other
was to help the cause Of Germany by
forcing Russia out of the war.
Mr.. Francis said he personally was
delighted when the government Of the
car was Overthrown. He added there
was as much difference between the
government of the Bolshevists and
the Kerensky government as there
was between the provisional govern
ment and that of the Autocracy.
The ambassador said he knew it to
be fact that the Bolshevists In sev-
eral provinces had nationalixed wom-
en-. Several previous witnesses had
denied that such was the case.
The Bolshevists. the ambassador
said, had been following the plan OF
forcing Russians into the Red Guard
by arresting women members OF theil
families and holding them ai
hostaxes. The great bulk OF Russian
people we're hungry. he asserted, and
leven three porters and two women
left TO care Tor the American en-
bassy building In Petro2rad were on
the verge Of starvation. The state de.
partment has been trying to ret food
II to them through Sweden. S a4H &