Pleasant A. Stovall to Robert Lansing
Title
Pleasant A. Stovall to Robert Lansing
Creator
Stovall, Pleasant A., 1857-1939
Identifier
WWP25381
Date
1918 October 30
Description
Letter about Bolshevik threat to Europe.
Source
Library of Congress, Woodrow Wilson Papers
Publisher
Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum
Subject
World War, 1914-1918--United States
Soviet Union--History--Revolution, 1917-1921
Contributor
Danna Faulds
Relation
WWP25380
Language
English
Provenance
Document scan was taken from Library of Congress microfilm reel of the Wilson Papers. WWPL volunteers transcribed the text.
Text
ERR SPECIAL GREEN.
Pontarlier, Berne.
Dated Oct. 30, 1918.
Recd. Nov. 1, 3:40 a. m.
Secretary of State,
Washington.
Important. 5487. October 30, 12 a. m.
Confidential. George D. Herron reports interview with David Soskic, former secretary of Keransky in Russia, presented to Herron and vouched for by chief of British Intelligence Service in Switzerland. Soskic believes there is an imminent and serious Bolsheviki menace in Europe in interest of Germany. Agents have slipped into France and Italy supplied with funds amounting to one hundred and fifty million marks. Madam Balibanoff, a Russian, has gone to Italy with ten million marks to spread propaganda.
According to Soskic, Germany hopes for continuance peace conversations and out break of Bolshevikism in Italy, France and Austria, whereupon Germany will become savior of civilization and rally all Conservative forces of Europe. Herron states: “If Germany, by subsidizing now every subversive movement or, can, during the winter, forment a common disorder throughout Europe, such as she produced in Roumania, even though it be of a lesser degree , she can still hope to rally her forces under the banner of the defender of European society and civilization, the society and civilization which she will have underminded in order to save herself by defending it. Herron suggests giving this matter publicity in order counteract spread of propaganda.
STOVALL.
C.S.
Pontarlier, Berne.
Dated Oct. 30, 1918.
Recd. Nov. 1, 3:40 a. m.
Secretary of State,
Washington.
Important. 5487. October 30, 12 a. m.
Confidential. George D. Herron reports interview with David Soskic, former secretary of Keransky in Russia, presented to Herron and vouched for by chief of British Intelligence Service in Switzerland. Soskic believes there is an imminent and serious Bolsheviki menace in Europe in interest of Germany. Agents have slipped into France and Italy supplied with funds amounting to one hundred and fifty million marks. Madam Balibanoff, a Russian, has gone to Italy with ten million marks to spread propaganda.
According to Soskic, Germany hopes for continuance peace conversations and out break of Bolshevikism in Italy, France and Austria, whereupon Germany will become savior of civilization and rally all Conservative forces of Europe. Herron states: “If Germany, by subsidizing now every subversive movement or, can, during the winter, forment a common disorder throughout Europe, such as she produced in Roumania, even though it be of a lesser degree , she can still hope to rally her forces under the banner of the defender of European society and civilization, the society and civilization which she will have underminded in order to save herself by defending it. Herron suggests giving this matter publicity in order counteract spread of propaganda.
STOVALL.
C.S.
Original Format
Letter
To
Lansing, Robert, 1864-1928
Collection
Citation
Stovall, Pleasant A., 1857-1939, “Pleasant A. Stovall to Robert Lansing,” 1918 October 30, WWP25381, World War I Letters, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.