25.VII.918

Very urgent

Arkhangelsk. People's Commissar Kedrov copy: to the chairman of the provincial executive committee Popov

The embassies of the Powers of Concord are on their way from Vologda [to] Arkhangelsk1. Prepare a steamship for their immediate departure from Russia, so that they cannot linger in Arkhangelsk, which [is] highly undesirable for reasons you understand.

Lenin.

Trotsky.

Chicherin.

Fond 2, op. 1, d. 25357 - text and signatures - autograph of G.V.Chicherin.

1The diplomatic corps left Petrograd for Vologda on February 26, 1918. The published telegram is connected with the attempt of the Soviet government to transfer the embassies of the countries of Concord from Vologda to Moscow after the suppression of the rebellion of the Left SRs. July 10, 1918. G.V.Chicherin sent a telegram to Vologda with this proposal and guaranteed the security of staying in Moscow or near Moscow. The exchange of telegrams was between Chicherin and the foreman of the diplomatic corps, American Ambassador D. Francis. (See: Documents of Foreign Policy of the USSR. Vol. 1. M., 1957, pp. 385, 388, 392-397). July 23 Francis reported to Chicherin: "Thank you for your telegram, we appreciate your continued interest in our personal safety and decided to follow your advice and leave Vologda" (ibid., p. 403). On July 24 Francis reported that they left for Arkhangelsk, not Moscow, and asked for orders to provide a steam locomotive. On July 24 Chicherin made a statement to this effect, published in the newspaper Izvestiya VTsIK No. 156, July 25, 1918. The People's Commissar warned the diplomats that under the conditions of martial law it was impossible to stay in Arkhangelsk and therefore "Arkhangelsk can be considered only as a stage for departure from Russia" (ibid., p. 407).

From Arkhangelsk the diplomatic corps left for Kandalaksha on July 29 and returned to Arkhangelsk on August 9. By the end of 1918, most of the embassies had left Russia, only the British and French embassies remained, which in September 1919 evacuated from Arkhangelsk together with the interventionists.