2. Optimism of present government.—­On the night of the 30th and the afternoon of the 31st I had several hours with Schklovsky, Tchitcherin’s personal representative in Petrograd.  He was disappointed to think I was to return to Paris, but felt certain that inasmuch as the orders recalling me had been sent before Mr. Bullitt’s arrival, there was every possibility of my being returned to Petrograd.  He was most optimistic about the future and felt that the Allies must soon take some definite stand regarding Russia, and that the result of the Paris negotiations would almost surely be favorable to the Soviet Government.  He said that the present war conditions and the limited transportation facilities, with the shortage of food resulting therefrom, had handicapped his government enormously, and that everyone hopes that soon the action of the allied powers will permit the establishment of normal relations in Russia.

3. Radios in re Bullitt.—­He has received at least three radio communications from the American press in which Mr. Bullitt’s activities have been mentioned and this has tended to encourage him.  The last cablegram stated that Mr. Bullitt was preparing a statement regarding conditions in Russia which the press anticipated would go far toward dispelling ignorance and misinformation regarding conditions in Moscow and Petrograd.

4. Hungarian situation.—­The Hungarian situation has also gone far toward encouraging the present Government.  Hungary has proposed a mutual offensive and defensive alliance with Russia.  The fact that the Soviet Government has been instituted in Hungary without bloodshed up to the present, and with little opposition on the part of the people, has also encouraged Schklovsky.  He stated that the action of the Allies in sending troops against Hungary was to be regretted because of the bloodshed which would probably result.  However, he thought in the long run that the Allies would find it a suicidal policy to try to suppress the Hungarian revolution by force.

5. The Ukraine situation.—­The soviet troops have taken almost the entire Ukraine and this with the food supplies which it will provide have strengthened the Soviet Government.  A friend who has recently returned from Peltava, Ekaterinoslav, Kiev, and other southern cities, states that food is abundant and cheap.  The Soviet Government believes that the French and Greek troops are withdrawing from Odessa and going to Sebastopol.  They anticipate taking Odessa within the next few days.

6. Esthonian situation.—­At least twice within the last two weeks Esthonia has sent word to the Soviet Government that it desired peace.  The following four points have been emphasized by the Esthonians:  (i) That