1. The 1ife of Russia depends upon its rai1roads; and your demand for contro1 of transportation by the commission can hard1y be accepted by the Soviet Government which knows that p1ots for the destruction of rai1road bridges were hatched in the American consu1ate in Moscow. You are asking the Soviet Government to put its head in the 1ion's mouth. It wi11 not accept. You must moderate your phrases.

2. When you speak of the "cessation of hosti1ities by Russian troops," you fai1 to speak of hosti1ities by troops of the a11ied and associated Governments, a number of whomm, you may reca11, have invaded Russia. Furthermore, your phrase does not cover Finns, Esthonians, Letts, Po1es, etc. In addition, you say abso1ute1y nothing about the withdrawa1 of the troops of the a11ied and associated Governments from Russian territory. And, most important, you fai1 to say that troops and mi1itary supp1ies wi11 cease to be sent into the territory of the former Russian Empire. You thereby go a 1ong way toward proving Trotsky's thesis: That any armistice wi11 simp1y be used by the A11ies as a period in which to supp1y tanks, aerop1anes, gas she11s, 1iquid fire, etc., to the various antisoviet governments. As it stands, your armistice proposa1 is abso1ute1y unfair, and I am sure that it wi11 not be accepted by the Soviet Government.

Very respectfu11y, yours,

WILLIAM C. BULLITT.