Colonel Haskell's First Confidential Report on Russia

COLONEL HASKELL'S FIRST CONFIDENTIAL REPORT ON RUSSIA, 18-20 October 1921 (Secret - to be sent in Cipher) Hoover Washington In accordance your instructions following full report situation in Russia. Paragraph One. POLITICAL SITUATION. Soviet Government has strangle hold on Russia but lacks support and confidence of people. No opposition dares raise its head. Two factions in central government; Lenin moderate, Trotsky radical, former apparently gaining ground. Rapid drifting from communistic ideals indicat- ed by recent free trade, rent authorization, car fares, etcetera. No present probability break be tween factions. Suspect Poreign Office intends worry us. Apparent effort effect contact our State Department on any pre text. Government attitude in the main friendly and helpful but constant effort inject government machinery into our relief operation under pretext more efficient and quicker: purpose create impression among simple peasants government operation. Every move we maice scrutinized by Chekka. Our telegrams vised. Our agents constantly watched. Trusted Bolsheviks highly recommended to us for employment, others dis- credited. Chekka all powerful, inclined to get out of hand but still controlled, Liberal group favor ARA and insure co-operation, hoping contact will lead trade agreement. Tchi tcherin very hostile England. General bitter feeling against France. Bureaucracy functioning under dictation group Jewish opportunists as severe as Imperial regime. Central Government shrewd but provincial and local Sovie ts hopelessly inefficient and composed ignorant representatives proletariat. General order being maintained throughout Russia. Little evidence crime. Paragraph TWO. ECONOMIC SITUATION, Complete economic broakdown. Total absence all manufactured articles, viz., repair parts, clothing replace- ments, household utensils, agricultural machinery, building materials, electrical and railroad equipment, paint, tools, drugs, in fact everything. All homes, public buildings gutted; defaced; heating, plumbing and lighting destroyed 127