Microfilm Reel 194, File 64, "Russia"

LOCHNER, Louis P., Chairman Committee of Bolshevik Relief, New York City.

Mar. 19, 1918.

Telegram - "At a meeting of New York Socialists addressed by an eye witness of the Russian situation, a committee of Bolshevik was created and instructed to request that you set aside a ship for the purpose of carrying supplies of food and clothing to the Bolshevik. An organization is being formed for the purpose of raising the necessary funds. May we count on the cooperation of the administration to carry out the plan ?"

See Bolshevik Relief

41804

March 19th, 1918

My Dear Mr. President;

Fully conscious of my selfishness, but with hope for your forgiveness, I must again abuse your patient kindness.

About a week after my letter, asking you to help me to "do my bit" I received the following from Mr. Creel:

"Your letter to the President has been handed to me with an urgent request from him to do something in the matter.- - - - -I am giving every thought to you, and hope that I may be able to suggest something very shortly."

This letter was addressed to me February the 15th. March the 15th I received from Mr. Creel the following communication:

- - - - -"At our last interview I told you distinctly that I had been able to do nothing that I knew of nothing, and that there was nothing to be expected of me. -- - - - If you can develop anything through your own initiative, I shall be glad to join in your support. I have the deepest appreciation of all that you have done, and as far as I am concerned, there is absolutely nothing in sight."

Thrown upon my "own initiative", I have now but one course and that is again to address myself to you. Your sympathetic interest in my fate, and generous support of my request, if I be permitted to judge, show a genuine desire on your part to help ne.

The unfortunate moment in Mr. Creel’s conception of my desire is an assumption that I am after a "job". I am not, Mr. President.

Immediately upon our entry into the war, I pointed out to Mr. Creel in a language as clear as I dared to make it that unless America organizes in Russia an extensive and forceful propaganda

41805

effectually to check the barrage of falsehoods and sham of the Germans, Russia would not only be lost as a fighting power for the allies, but would eventually be turned into a base of supply for the enemy. In short, in the months of May and June, 1917 I gave Mr. Creel a picture of Russia of the months of February and March 1918.

And I begged to be allowed to go to Russia, not only because of my thorough knowledge of its language, life and men, but, mainly because of my intimate familliarity with the ways and methods of the German propaganda, which I learned not from newspapers and magazines, but from close contact with the men engaged in that propaganda in Germany, Austria and Scandinavia, during this war.

Again, when I applied for some diplomatic appointment in Vladivostok, Harbin, and especially Scandinavia, I just had in view the German propaganda, and the increasing tempo of alarming events, which, I thought, justified precautions unthinkable otherwise.

Mr. President, I have given away for the country my all, and more than my all, since my boy--my only child-- nineteen years old, is now on the way to France. All that I ask of you is an opportunity to give whatever is still left within me for the country.

I remain as ever, faithfully and loyally yours

Hon. WOODROW WILSON, President, White House, Washington, D. C.

41806

Personal. 21 March, 1918

My dear Mr. Miller:

I have your letter of March nineteenth. You may be sure that both Mr. Creel and I sincerely desire to find for you some work which would be suitable and worth doing, and our failure has not been due to disinclination or indifference.

I am sorry to say that I believe it would be a very great mistake to send additional representatives to Russia at this time. Mr. Creel has been able to accomplish a remarkable work in the way of disseminating true information in Russia, and the doors there are closing one after another as the Germans advance. I think it is the common opinion amongst us here that further attempts to have American opinion directly represented in Russia at the present time would be a mistake.

In haste

Sincerely yours,

Mr. L. E. Miller. 151 Canal Street. New York City.

41807

STATE, Secretary of Mar. 27, 1918.

Encloses, for the attention of the President, a copy of memorial signed by prominent and influential leaders of the Poles, Tzechs, and Slovak refugees in Russia, transmitted by telegraph Mar. 19, 1918, through the American Consul at Moscow.

See 2950

41808