Budapest, Béla Kun

I am sending you a copy of our radiogram today to Pichon regarding the exchange question with France 422.

Our Red Cross commission headed by Manuilsky departed for France in order to organize the repatriation of our people, but was detained. We gave a promise to repatriate the French military personnel remaining with us, if the repatriation of ours from France would be organized and proceed at full speed. The French government obstructed Manuilsky's commission from organizing this affair. Out of 35,000 Russian soldiers in France, Africa, and Salonika, France presently wants to repatriate 900 people and gives empty promises to repatriate ours subsequently as circumstances permit, but for this France demands that we immediately release all Frenchmen to their homeland.

France wants to send off Manuilsky's mission simultaneously with 900 Russian soldiers, although nothing has been done for the further organization of repatriation. France wants to receive everything but give almost nothing and get rid of Manuilsky.

Moreover, we know that our soldiers remaining in France and refusing to enter the army are subjected to the most monstrous persecution, and that Manuilsky has been forbidden to establish any contact with them.

* The signature of Y. M. Sverdlov follows, written in the hand of V. I. Lenin. Editor.