f58 1 9 ^^ A = ^^ o A = CT) — =^= c: ^^"— — 1 OS = — . - D3 ^^ cri 5 — — ^ o ■ 1 = 3> 8 m 1 = ■- ID 7 m 7 a r— 1 1 = Gves.t Britain, Foreign office. Correspondence v;ith the Russian Soviet government respecting the imprisonment of Mrs, Stan Harding in Russia, (Russia, no.l, 1922) A.r/A, J&JC4 RUSSIA No. 1 (19221 Correspondence with the Russian Soviet Government respecting- the Imprisonment of Mrs. Stan Harding in Russia. Presented to Parliament by Command of His Mnjestij. LONDON : PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY HIS MAJESTY'S STATIONEKY OFFICE. To be purchased through any Bookseller or directly from H.M. STATIONEKY OFFICE at the following addresses: Imperial House, Kixgsway, London, W.C, 2, and 28, Abingdon Street, London, S.W. 1 ; 37, Peter Street, Manchester; 1, St. Andrew's Crescent, Cardiff; 23, Forth Street, Edinburgh; OR FROM EASON & SON, Ltd., 40 & 41, Lower Sackville Street, Dublin. 1922. Cmd. ir.02.] Price 3d. Net. • « 1 > A • 1 *,» « TABLE OF CONTENTS. No. and Name. Date. Subject. Pa ge. 1921. 1. To Mr. Hodgsou ( Moscow) Sept. 3 To call attention of the Soviet Government to the case of Mrs. Stan Harding. To claim compen- sation for hardships endured during imprisonment on a false charge whilst visiting Russia with the explicit approval of the Soviet Government... 3 2. Mr. Hodgson „ 29 Transmits note from M. Litvinof stating that Soviet Government cannot consider claims for com- pensation witliout putting forward claims on behalf of Russians who suffered injuries at hands of the • British authorities 6 3. To Mr. Hodgson Dee. 2 1922. Cannot accept M. Litvinof's reply. To inform M. Litvinof that His Majesty's Government hope to receive a satisfactory reply with- ou t f n rther del ay 7 4. Mr. M. Grove (Moscow) Jan. 13 Transmits copy of note to Soviet Government and note in reply referring to previous note and calling attention to cases of M. Babusbkin, Russian consul at Meshed, and of Russians arrested in Constantinople ... 7 «-1 JK Correspondence with the Russian Soviet Govern- ment respecting the imprisonment of Mrs. Stan Harding in Russia. No. 1. 'Thr, Marquess Curzon of KcdlcstoR to Mr. R. M. Hodgson {Moscow). Sir, Foreign Office, September o, 1921. I SHALL be glad if you will draw the attention of the Soviet Government to the case of Mrs. Stan Harding, which is giving rise to pressing iiuestions in tlie House of Commons, and which, in the opinion of His Majesty's Government, is of such a nature that the Soviet Governiueiit should meet it by exceptional measures. 2. Mrs. Stan Harding proceeded to Russia as the representative of the '■ New York World " in June 1920. In order to facilitate her journey, she first saw M. Litvinof in Copenhagen, with introductions from prominent German Socialists and Communist leaders. M. Litvinof gave her a letter to M. Gukovsky, the head of the Soviet Government Economic Mission at Reval. On presenting this letter on her arrival in Keval she was informed that j)ermission had been received from the People's Commissary for Foreign Affairs for her to proceed int(j Russia. At the Soviet Mission in Reval she was introduced to an official of the Conmiissariat for Foreign Affairs, by name Rossinsky, and was informed that he would accompany her on her journey to Russia as English interpreter. A number of foreign delegates to the Third International also travelled with her. On arrival in Moscow, Rossinsky accompanied her to the Foreign Office, whence she was taken to a house where apartments are allotted to visitors from abroad. Later in the day Mrs. Harding was informed by M. Mogilevsky (who had also accompanied her from Reval) that, as she would probably be going to the Foreign Office every evening, it was thought that it would be more convenient for her to l)e allotted an apartment in a more central quarter of the city. This had been arranged for, and he jDressed her to go at once. Prior to accompanying Mogilevsky, she was informed by Rossinsky tiiat he had made -an appointment for her to see M. Chicherin at 11 o'clock that evening. Mogilevsky then drove her in a car to the Lubianka headquarters of the All-Russian Exti'aordinary Connnission. On arriving there he informed her that she was arrested. She was placed in a guard-room and stripped, the seams and hems of her clothes being opened and i-iibjected to a search. She was then placi d in a solitary cell, containing a verminous plank bed, without a chair. She was later su1)jected to an interrogation, by Mogilevsky, lasting several hours, in the course of which he informed her that she was chief of the British Secret Service organisation in Russia. To this she replied that she was not, never had been and ricver woidd be, in 763 1(X)0 3/22 F.O.P. [7947] the i>ritish Secret Service. Tn leply, Mogilcvyky jeered at lier, au'l toltl her to "tell that to her giaiidmuther." He appeared to base his cluuges against her on the following grounds : — (1.) That in 1911 to 1912 she had proceeded to Cliina at a time when, he asserted, the country was closed to Eui-opcans, and she must therefore have l)cen engaged u[)()n some secret work. (2.) That in the course of the year 1918, prior to the armistice, she proceeded to (lermany, which he regarded as indicating that she was employed on secret intelligence service. (o.) Upon an article written by one Sefton JJelmar, published in the " Daily News," suggesting that her activities in Gernuxny were of far greater importance than was generally known. (4.) A telegram leceived by Mrs. HanUng from Mr. Tuoiiy, the Loudon representative of the "New York World," engaging her for that j)aper, stating what her salary would be, and that lie was sending her copies of telegrams from Lincoln Eyre, who had previously been the corres})ondent of the ])aper in Kussia, as a guide to tlic sort of copy that h.e wanted. (5 ) That Lincoln Lyre had led Comra'le Lalabanova (a female member of the I'etrograd Soviet, formerly an exile in Switzerland, and now a secretary to the Communist Inter- national) to believe that he was a Connnunist, and had subsequently made reports to the Ib'ilish authorities. o. ]\rrs. Harding told Mogilevsky that his suggestions showed com])lete ignorance of the facts. (1) and (2) iip[)eared to relate to a j(jurne)' undertaken on the Upper Yang-tsze during the Chinese I'ebellion and to a journey in Germany in the autumn of 1918 for the purp(»se of obtaining a divorce from her husband, a Crerman subject, from wIkjui she had been separated for yiiars. 4. Mrs. llar(hng asked to see M. Chicherin, to which Mogilevsky replied that the Minist,er for Foreign Allairs did not concern himself with espionage, finally adding, "You will never see Chicherin unless you come to terms with me, and the less you say about your introduc- tions the better, because it is these introductituis that make your case so very grave. They show that you possess the confidence of the (Tcrman Socialists and the Connnunist leaders, and are therefore in a ])osition to he a danger to us. If you tell us your mission and denounce your accom})lices you will be released and allowed to live exactly as other journalists, only we shall re(juire an undertaking from you that you do not concern y(nirself witli the Third hiterna- tional, and if you break this undertaking you will 1)0 immediately rearrested." T). Mrs. Harding again protested that she was not an agent and had no accomi)lices. Mogile\'sk}' then oilered to introduce her to two Eninitf. agents, who, he said, were very well known : and wlien slu; said that she did noi know their names, he added that siie was lying and tliat these agents would tell her thai the Extraordinary Com- mission kept its ])T-omis('s. She then asked him how he felt himself in a position to inform her that these people hail come to an anange- ment with the ExtraorcUnary Commission. He replied : " It is quite simple, Madam ; because you will never leave the cell where you are now except to suft"er the penalty of espionage in war-time — unless we hold you in our pov/er." 6. Mrs Harding was next accused of having assisted Mrs. Harrison (then representing the " Baltimore Sun " in Moscow) to obtain certain information, knowing that she was in the Secret Service. Mrs. Harding denied that she knew Mrs. Harrison was in the Secret Service, and said that any information she had given to Mrs. Harrison was of such a nature that it was in the interests of German Socialists and of the British and American public to have it. 7. A second and third interrogation followed at later dates, at the close of which Mogilevsky said : " Your case is closed. I have done what I can to save you, but you refuse to help me, and you have decided that you will remain faithful to the British Intelligence Service, and I can do nothing." She then applied for a trial, to which he replied that she would never be tried. 8. Mrs. Harding was imprisoned in solitary confinement for nine weeks, and was not allowed Ijooks or any other literature. The food provided daily during that time was described by her as tea or coffee — she was not sure which it was meant to be — 1 lb. of black bread, herring soup twice a day, which she described as simply hot water with herring skins and eyes in it. A plate of porridge was occasion- ally provided. 9. The effect of solitary confinement for so long a time under conditions of such squalor and privation induced Mrs. Harding to decide that she would endeavour to concoct a story that she had been requested to obtain certain information on the raw materials of Russia from a fictitious Eussian, who, she was informed, would introduce himself to her by a password when she got to Russia. By this subter- fuge she succeeded in gaining access to M. Chicherin, who, however, left the room without listening to her appeal. 10. In September Mrs. Harding, as the result of frequent hunger- striking, was removed to the Butirka prison for a week, where conditions were better and medical aid was provided. Shortly after- wards she was subjected to further examinations, at the end of which Mogilevsky said : " The only condition upon which anyone in your position is ever released is that you undertake to help us in counter- espionage, and that you give a written declaration that you are prepared to do so." He explained to her that she would be required to act as a decoy to newly-arrived journalists, with a view to eliciting their real sentiments with regard to the Soviet Government. This Mrs. Harding declined to do. 11. Ten days later she again endeavoured to obtain a transfer from the Lubianka (to which she had been sent back) to another prison, whereupon she was told that great leniency had been shown her in not shooting her, but that there was no reason to transfer her to another prison where the conditions were better. She was again asked to produce a document hj which the Soviet Government could obtain a hold over her. Finally, Mrs. Stan Harding was transferred to the Butirka prison once more, where she made the acquaintance of a British subject, Miss Maxwell, who had been imprisoned by the Soviet Government on the ground of her alleged participation in a [79-17] B 2 6 conspiracy against tlie Soviet Government. Miss Maxwell was shortly afterwards released, and on her return to England gave information to His Majesty's Government, which resulted in steps being taken to procure the release of Mrs. Stan Harding, who finally left Moscow on the 26th November, 1920. 12. In approaching the Soviet Government on tliis matter, you are authorised to endorse Mrs. Stan Harding's repeated statements that she was not at any time a Secret Service agent. You should add that His Majesty's Government accordingly expect the Soviet Government to accept Mrs. Harding's claim for compensation com- mensurate with her sufferings during imprisonment on a false charge whilst visiting Soviet Russia with the explicit approval of that Government. Yon should not fail to point out the very unfortunate impression which would be created, in view of the wide notoriety of the circumstances of the case both in Parliament and in the press, should the Soviet Government not recognise the claim. I am, &c. CURZON OF KEDLESTON. No. 2. M7\ R. M. Hodgson to the Marquess Cio'zon of Kalleston. My Lord, Moscow, September 29, 1921. With reference to your despatch of the 3rd instant, I have the honour to report that, in accordance with instructions, I have made repesentations, both personally and in writing, to the Soviet Govern- ment in the matter of Mrs. Stan Harding's claim for compensation, but without success. I am transmitting, herewith, copy of a note verhale from M. Litvinof on the subject. In the course of conversation, M. Litvinof has maintained the view that at the time when Mrs. Harding arrived in Russia the country was to all intents and purposes still in a state of war, and that consequently foreign subjects entering the country must do so on their own risk and peril. Moreover, he asserts that he himself saw Mrs. Harding in Copenhagen, and advised her against continuing- her journey, but that she refused his advice and obtained a visa in Rental. I have, &c. R. M. HODGSON. Enclosure in No. 2. Note verhale. In reply to the note rerh(le of the TJritish agent, dated the 17th Septeml)er, 1921, the People's Commissariat for Foreign AHairs wishes to c^all his attention to the fact that Mrs. Stan Harding was arrested in June 1920, i.e., prior to the conchision of the Anglo- Russian Trade Agreement. The competent authorities liad reason to 7 believe that Mrs. Stan Harding canie to Russia with a view to obtaining information useful to the enemies of Soviet Russia. Whether the authorities were justitiell in their suspicions or not, the Soviet Government could not consider the claims for compensation without putting forward claims on behalf of a great number of Kussians wlio had suffered injuries at the hands of the British authorities prior to the Anglo-Russian Trade Agreement. The People's Commissariat for Foreign x4ffairs hopes, therefore, that the Foreign OlHce will concur with its view that no useful purpose would be served by raising now the (piestion of considering such claims and counter-claims. Sqitembcr 26, 1921. No. 3. 7'hc Manjncss Carzon. of Kcdledo>t to Mr. R. M. Hoihjaon. Sir, Forcvjn Oljicc, December 2, 1D21. 1 HAVK received your des[iatch of the 29th Sei)tember, enclosing a ropy of a iiotr cci'balc from M. Litvinof, regarding the claim of Mrs. Stan Harding for comjicnsation in respect of the. disgraceful treatment accorded to her whilst in b'ussia on the invitation of the Soviet Government. 2 1 cannot acce[>t M. Litvinofs reply in justitication of the incident and of his refusal to grant compensation. M. Litvinof himself does not attem})t to tleny that grave injustice has been done to ]\Irs. Harding. The infoiination in the possession oi' His Majesty's Government is at variance with the verbal statement made to you by M. Litvinof that when he saw Mrs. Harding in Coijeidiagen he advised her a'j;ainst continuing; her iourney, but tliat she refused his advice and obtained a visa in Reval. o. You should therefore inform M. Litvinof that His Majesty's (Jovernment earnestly hope that a satisfactory reply to tbeir note of the 8rd September may l>e fortliC(nniiig without further delay. You sh(juld add that, in the absence of such a reply within a rca.^-onable period, they will be compelled to communicate to the press the whole correspondence on this lamentable aflair, which cannot fail to j)roducc a most unfortunate impression. As the Soviet Government is already aware, Mrs. Stan Harding's case has excited widespread interest and svmpathv in Parliament and in the incss in this country, which His Majesty's Government fully share. I am, iS:c. CURZOX OF KEDLESTUN. No. 4. Mr. Moiityotiicrij Gruce to the Mcrquess Carzon of Kedlrston My Lord, Moi^cow, Janvnrij 13, 1922. I HAVE the honour to transmit herewith copies of the not<' verhale which Mr. Hodgson addressed to M. Litvinof in accordance 8 with tlie iiisiructiuus coutained in your despatch of the 2nd December, and of the note verbale which I have now received in reply to the same. I have, &c. H. MONTGOMERY GROVE. Enclosure 1 in No, 4. Note verbale. The British agent presents his compliments to the Assistant Cunimissary for Foreign Affairs, and, witli reference to M. Litvinofs note verbale of the 26th Septendier last regarding tlie treatment accorded to Mrs. Stan Harding in Russia, lias the lionour to state, mider instructions from His Majesty's Secretary of State Ibr P'oreign Affairs, that the reply contained in the above note cannot be accepted in justification of the incident or of the refusal to grant com]»ensati()n to Mrs. Stan Harding. It is lo 1)0 observed that Mrs. HariHng received iicruiission to enter Russia from the People's Commissary for Foreign Affairs through M. Gukovsky at Reval, for whom she had a letter from ^I. Litvinof, then in Co])enhagen ; that she travelled to Russia with the explicit approval of the Russian Government, which was luUy cognisant of the object of her mission ; and that, as is not iudeed contested- — she was the victim of gross injustice and was subjected to gross ill-trealnieiit, which she had done nothing whatsoever to invite. His Majesty's Government earnestly hope that a satisfactory reply to the re])resentations made on their belialf by the liritish agent, under his note of the 17th September, will be forthcoming without further delay. In the al)sence of such a reply within a reasonable period, they will be compcdled to communicate to the press the whole eorres]>onilence on this lamentable affair, which cannot fail to ]iro(bice a most unforliinate impression. As the Soviet (Jovernment is already aware, Mrs. Harding's case has excited widesjtread interest and sympathy in Parliament and in the press in England, which His Majesty's (Jovernment fully share. Moscoiv, Jdiivdri/ 4, 1922. J^^iiclosui-e 2 in No. 4. Note verbale. Tin; I'eoiile's Commissaiiat for Foreign Affairs pruscjiLs its compliments to the liritish agent, and, in re)»ly to the note verbale of the 4th January, 1922, would refer lo its note verbale of tlie 26th September, 1921, in which it stated that it cannot consider Mrs. Harding's claim without i)utting fortii counter-claims for unjustified imprisonment and sufferings caused to Russian citizens by various British authorities. In this connection, it is only necessary to mention, for instance, the cases of M. E. A. Tjabushkin,* who, as Russian consul in Meshed, Persia, was arrested with his whole staff' by British military authorities on the 25th October, 1918, and held in prison under most unbearable conditions for over a year, and who have not as yet recovered from the injuries sustained by their arrest and detention, and of the many Russians recently imprisoned by tlie British authorities in Constantinople. The People's Commissariat for Foreign Affairs believes that should the British Government insist in considering such claims and counter-claims, the balance would not be in favour, of the British Government. M0SC02V, January 10, 1922. * Foreign Office Note. — M. and Mme. Babushkin were arrested at Meshed in October 1918 as undesirable aliens and taken to India, where they were interned until the autuiun of 1920, when they were sent back to Russia via the United Kingdom. At the time of their arrest the war was still in progress, and British forces in North Persia were endeavouring to prevent German intrigues in Central Asia. M. and Mme. Babushkin were sent back to Russia when an agreement was concluded for the exchange of prisoners. The Russians imprisoned in Constantinople were arrested by the Allied Commander-in-chief under martial law as distiirbers of the peace. 28309 O^JsI^O THE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY This book is DUE on the last date stamped below Form L-9-20(;(-8,'37 I ^ \ '^■^X f ■^B.w&vrt ^'f ^^-^ ■*'^*"'^^*'*^ 10'^ ANG. ^' Forjj_office_- with the Rus' s±an i^oviet~^art:r- respecting the im- 'iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiii AA 000 518 177 1 -Siaxx_Jiar-dirLg_Jji_ Russia. ; 758 GV 1922 OEMCO LIBRARY SUPPLIES 114 South Carroll Street Madtuin Wicrnn^in