Poole to Lansing on Soviet response to continued German military activity File No. 861.00/2161 [Telegram] Petrograd, June 7, 1918, 6 p.m. [Received June 28, 8 p.m.] 612.     Official Soviet gazette for June 7 prints statement made to Kuhlmann by Russian representative, Berlin, May 28 in which the following instances of continued German military activity [are cited: (1)] Concentration of forces on the Don front, apparently for advance on Novorossiisk, fighting at Bataisk, German submarines blockading Novorossiisk's harbor. (2) Continued advance toward Voronezh government in region of Valuiki. (3) Raids by German troops into Russian territory on northwestern front. (4) Threats of advance in Vitebsk government. (5) Near Lake Chud all male inhabitants of a village carried off. (6) Operations of German submarines in Arctic Ocean and White Sea causing coastal inhabitants to die of hunger as their only means of livelihood is by fishing and coastal trading.     Result is strong feeling against Germans and marked increase of sympathy for English in whom inhabitants see only salvation from hunger. Owing this situation and cruel manner of execution German blockade, Russian Government is unable to withstand claims of English respecting Murman coast or to counteract increasing indignation against Germany. Same paper prints following:     People's Commissariat Foreign Affairs has received information that according to statement of German Government, Russian commercial navigation will enjoy absolute freedom in event of departure of English and their allies from Murmansk coast and adjoining waters.     Also prints protest by Joffe to Kuhlmann May 28 against instance by Ukrainian peace delegation on demarcation line running near Kursk and Voronezh and will [omission] eastward on the Don front. Kuhlmann asked to point out to Ukrainian government impossibility of its demands.     Gazette for June 4 prints decree abolishing diplomatic rank. On principle of equality of large and small states all Russian diplomatic agents abroad will be called simply "Plenipotentiary Representative of Russian Federative Soviet Republic" and diplomatic agents of foreign countries accredited to Russia will likewise be considered as of one rank.     Chaprashnikov, Bulgarian representative near Soviet government, arrived Moscow June 2. Poole Documents on US Foreign Policy in Russia [Subject] [Author] [Date]