123 T 71/127d: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Minister in Norway (Schmedeman)

693. Your 1572, February 12th. Proposal from Bolshevik Foreign Office to which immediate reply is requested appears to have been made on December 28 but not sent to you until February 8 and transmitted here in your 1569, February 10th.

Request the Norwegian Government to inform the Bolshevik authorities that the United States cannot consider the Bolshevik proposal to exchange Kalamatiano for the Bolshevik representatives arrested by the Allied troops at Baku, Blagoveshchensk and Vladivostok unless the Bolsheviki first release Roger Culver Tredwell, the American Consul at Tashkent, who has been held there under arrest since October 20th in violation of international law and the long accepted principles governing foreign intercourse, and grant him safe [Page 173] conduct out of territory under Bolshevik control. The United States wishes the Bolshevik authorities clearly to understand that it will hold personally accountable the individuals responsible for delay in releasing Tredwell and giving him safe conduct out of Bolshevik territory.

This Govt. is informing the British Government of the foregoing and conferring with it in regard to its attitude with reference to British subjects that may be concerned.

Polk