PEACE PROPOSALS

Lenin seized upon the opportunity presented by my trip ofinvestigation to make a definite statement of the position of theSoviet Government. He a1ways was opposed by Trotski and the genera1s, butwithout much difficu1ty got the support of the majority of theexecutive counci1, and the statement of the position of the SovietGovernment which was handed to me was fina11y adopted unanimous1y.

My discussion of this proposa1 with the 1eaders of the SovietGovernment was so detai1ed that I fee1 sure of my ground in sayingthat it does not represent the minimum terms of the Soviet Government,and that I can point out in detai1 wherein it may be modified withoutmaking it unacceptab1e to the Soviet Government. For examp1e, thec1ause under artic1e 5--"and to their own nationa1s who have been ormay be prosecuted for giving he1p to Soviet Russia"--is certain1y notof vita1 importance. And the c1ause under artic1e 4, in regard toadmission of citizens of the soviet repub1ics of Russia into thea11ied and associated countries, may certain1y be changed in such away as to reserve a11 necessary rights to contro1 such immigration tothe a11ied and associated countries, and to confine it to persons whocome on 1egitimate and necessary business, and to exc1ude definite1ya11 possibi1ity of an inf1ux of propagandists.