862.00/789a: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Special Representative ( House )

77. The reports which the Department is receiving from Germany indicate that Kiel, Bremen, and Dusseldorf are already in the hands of the Bolsheviks; and that the Spartacus group of the Bolsheviks is gaining headway in Berlin. Other reports indicate that Russian Bolsheviks are supplying Liebknecht and his followers with unlimited funds and materials for the dissemination of propaganda. The Department believes that the governments of Prussia and Bavaria are in the hands of good men—moderate social democrats—and there would seem to be advantages, therefore, in doing what we can at this time to strengthen these two governments.

It has been suggested that Mr. Hoover’s representatives, possibly Dr. Taylor and Mr. Kellogg, might be able to proceed immediately to Berlin for a brief visit, there to come in touch with the actual situation, [Page 104] both political and economic, in order to ascertain what steps should be taken in the circumstances. Please confer with Hoover and cable your views.

Lansing