fear was needless as the industrial development of Russia would probably bring about the consumption by Russia of her own products. However, if American capital for the industrial needs of Russia was not provided, then doubtless the surplus crop would be exported in good years while in bad years the crop would be consumed at home. The following is the statement which Chicherin handed me: 52 "The Russian Government is interested in the highest degree in every step which can bring nearer the reestablishment of commercial relations between Russia and the United States of America. It is evident that such commercial relations must be based upon equality of rights and reciprocal benefits. The Russian Government is therefore ready to begin at once preliminary official exchange of opinions as to reopening of regular relations with a duly authorized American delegation. The Russian Government is in the same measure disposed to carry on such discussions in Russia, in the United States or in any third country. The Russian Government would eagerly welcome any measure which being based upon mutual interest and equality would allow both the United States and Russia to acquire the necessary information as to the business conditions of the two countries. The wish of the Russian Government is to create permanent and solid business relations between Russia and America. It is from this viewpoint that Russia cannot consider as a measure promoting the desired end the nomination of an American committee of inquiry for Russia which would put Russia in a condition of inferiority. Russian public opinion would evidently consider such a nomination by one of the two governments of a committee of inquiry for the other country as an infringement to the equality of rights of free peoples. The result would be that feelings would be engendered which would be scarcely helpful to the consolidation of useful business intercourse between the two countries. The Russian Government thinks that the American Government having gathered ample information about the internal conditions in Russia with the help of officials of the Relief Administration and through many other channels, will be in a position, if it considers that the time has come for furthering new issues as to Russian trade, to propose forms of intercourse in conformity with equality of rights, and on this basis it will always find on the part of Russia the most eager desire to meet its wishes." I told Chicherin briefly that since apparently the Soviet Government felt that it was not possible to admit a commission of technical experts to make a study and report upon Russian economic conditions, there seemed to be nothing more to say. Chicherin replied that if at a later time after he returned to Moscow the American Government had other proposals to make, of course he would gladly consider them. I told him that I had no knowledge of any other proposals and terminated the conversation. "The statement is not paraphrased. I was told this morning by De Bach, formerly the Counselor at the Russian Embassy in Washington, that he had heard from several Moscow sources that the Soviet authorities were jubilant at our proposal and were saying that now the ice was broken. Other sources of information confirm this report. Since Chicherin has released this statement to the press and is evidently seeking all the publicity possible, I suggest that we make a public acknowledgment in the briefest possible form. I believe that so far the only result of our proposing a commission has been to convince the Russians that the United States is changing its attitude. HOUGHTON 861.50 Am 3/17: Telegram The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Germany (Houghton) WASHINGTON, September 18, 1922—5 p.m. 122. Your 187, September 16, 4 p.m. A public announcement is being made that in view of Soviet refusal matter is now considered to be terminated. 861.50 Am 3/29 : Telegram PHILLIPS The Special Mission at Lausanne 53 to the Secretary of State [Paraphrase] LAUSANNE, December 11, 1922-2 p.m. 87. We have received indirectly from Chicherin intimations which indicate that he is intensely desirous of again informally negotiating to have an unofficial commission sent by the United States to Russia to obtain information and for other purposes. Ambassador Child believes that information which can be obtained from other sources is sufficient for the present purposes of the United States. He thinks that Lausanne is not the place in which to entertain this suggestion and that the only purpose which could be confidently predicted is increased Soviet propaganda and prestige. 53 AMERICAN] MISSION The Ambassador in Italy (Child) and the Minister in Switzerland (Grew) had been instructed to be present at Lausanne as observers during the sessions of the conference for negotiating peace between the Allies and Turkey. 861.50 Am 3/29 Telegram The Secretary of State to the Special Mission at Lausanne [Paraphrase] WASHINGTON, December 12, 1922-7 p.m. 43. Mission's 87, December 11, 2 p.m. Belief that you should carefully avoid this question at Lausanne has our approval. HUGHES APPEAL TO PRESIDENT HARDING ON BEHALF OF TIKHON, PATRIARCH OF THE RUSSIAN CHURCH, ON TRIAL BEFORE A SOVIET TRIBUNAL 861.404/22 The Russian Ambassador (Bakhmeteff) to the Secretary of State The Russian Ambassador presents his compliments to the Honorable, the Secretary of State and has the honor to request to bring to the attention of the President the enclosed letter from Archbishop Alexander, together with an appeal of several high dignitaries of the Eastern Orthodox Church in the United States of America, headed by His Grace Metropolitan Platon, relative to the reported trial of His Holiness Tikhon, Patriarch of Moscow and All the Russias. These documents have been received by the Russian Embassy with the request to submit them to the President. WASHINGTON, May 15, 1922. [Enclosure 1] Archbishop Alexander to President Harding NEW YORK, 12 of May, 1922. MY DEAR MR. PRESIDENT: With the vivid recollection of your earnest Christian attitude toward the tremendous responsibility resting upon you that was so clearly manifested to me in audience you were so kind as to grant me, which attitude was further emphasized in your cordial reply to the memorial I then presented you, I have no hesitation in forwarding to you the enclosed appeal of my fellow Bishops, of the Metropolitan of Odessa and Gherson, now a refugee with us in America, and myself. As your Excellency will see, we are appealing not so much for the life of one man, though that is dear to us, but for the life of the largest single group of Christians in the World; our appeal is that Christ may not be driven from Russia and our people there 32604 vol. II—38- -60 thrown back into the barbarism of Anti-Christ as well as steeped in the poison of anti-social doctrine. May this letter find you in perfect health, and may God preserve you in the same, is the prayer of Your fellow servant, ALEXANDER Archbishop of the Aleutian Isles and No. America [Enclosure 2] The Hierarchy of the Holy Eastern Orthodox Church in America to President Harding NEW YORK, May 12, 1922. We, the Hierarchy of the Holy Eastern Orthodox Church, consisting of the Archbishops and Bishops in charge of the American work [of] the Church amongst peoples of Greek, Syrian, Russian, Serbian, Carpatho-Russian, Roumanian, Albanian, Bulgarian, and kindred descent, many of them native born American citizens, many others legalized citizens, together with the recent immigrants, In Conference assembled, invoking the aid of Our Common Father in Heaven, the God of us all, do herewith set forth this, our humble and earnest appeal and petition to HIS EXCELLENCY, THE MOST HONORABLE President of the United States: MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY that we remind you of the two millions of Orthodox Church people now resident in the United States, on whose behalf we, their chief Pastors, appeal to you to save the life of their and our venerable Patriarch, Head of the Russian Orthodox Church, and the last remaining barrier against the total submerging of that onetime great nation in the maelstrom of organized anarchy which now has the Russian people in its powerful grip. By public press and from other sources we have learned that His Holiness, Tikhon, Patriarch of Moscow and All the Russias, is on trial for his life before the so-called Revolutionary Tribunal in Moscow on the specious charge of inciting the Faithful to riot in that he would not, and could not in duty to his sacred oath, license the total destruction of all means for the perpetuation of the Sacraments and other Rites of Holy Religion by sanctioning the sacrilegious seizure of the intrinsically valueless vessels used in the celebra tion of the Holy Communion, Baptism, and other sacred forms of Divine Worship. The charge that vast treasures were being withheld by the Church from the use of the starving people of the land is false. Long since what few treasures had escaped the sack of all sacred places by mobs had been sacrifices to this very cause of succoring the needy and in maintaining the fabric of worship since all funds of the entire ecclesiastical structure of a Church of about one hundred and twenty five millions communicants had been "confiscated" by the present regime. On pretense of seizing "treasures " the anti-christian forces now in control have attempted to prevent the Church from performing her ritual functions and thus to abolish the external forms of worship. The refusal of His Holiness, with death as the alternative, to act as accomplice in this crime against the conscience and soul of a people, as well as his refusal to play the part of Pilate and wash his hands of responsibility when his frantic people asked his advice and guidance, is heroic evidence of his loyalty to God and to Right. For this he is now on trial before a judge and jury of atheists; his real crime is that he represents Religion! Thus, we beg Your Excellency to believe, it is Religion,-Christianity, that is on trial in the person of His Holiness, Tikhon, Patriarch of Moscow. Need we point out to you, Sir, that while a Church must be destroyed, that a mass of plated vessels for altar use be gathered in behalf of the poor famine sufferers, these same destroyers are spending appalling sums in the maintenance of an army arrayed avowedly against civilization, and countless sums are expended in the propaganda of world revolt against the structure of society? God forbid that one paltry jewel remain in the custody of the Church authorities of Russia as long as one of the least of all Russians is starving because of the need of that jewel! It is but more of the vicious propaganda aimed at all decency that fabricates the lie that the Church of Christ is hording valuable baubles while the Poor of the Master are starving. We deny this miserable imputation against the honor of our confreres of the Russian clergy. Stripped clear of deceit, this last outrage against Religion and Christ in Russia, coupled as it is with the recent decree that no person under eighteen years of age may be taught anything whatever of religious principle, is seen to be the great and desperate attempt of the agents of Anti-Christ to destroy the Church completely before the hoped-for resumption of international relations shall bring these present rulers of Russia under the scrutiny and coercive judgement of civilized nations. |