Document retrieved from LDS microfilm from the Russian Consular Office in San Francisco, CA.
Image attached of letter. Right click and save to your computer.
Transcribed to the best of my ability by Nancy
Poppin Posey=====================================
War Department
Office of the
Provost Marshal General
Washington
June 14, 1917
Memorandum for the Military Attaché of the Russian Embassy.
The status of the case in respect of a certain religious sect called “Molokans” in
Arizona is as follows:
Some time before registration the
Governor of
Arizona telegraphed to this office calling our attention to the existence of this sect in his state apprising us of the probability that these people would refuse to register and asking for instructions. This office instructed the
Governor to explain to these people that the act of registration did not of itself subject them to draft and that after being registered and before being taken for military service they would be given ample opportunity to say that they belonged to a religious sect whose creed forbade its members to engage in war in any form. Hearing no more from the
Governor of
Arizona, on June 13th, we telegraphed him asking what action had been taken as to these people. He replied that thirty-five Molokans had been arrested for refusing to register and after hearing before the United States Commissioner were released on bail of $100 each for appearance before the Federal Grand
Jury in October. The Military Attaché of the Russian Embassy called at this office on June 14th and suggested that perhaps even in spite of the efforts of the
Governor, these people did not understand that registration did not of itself induct them into military service. The Executive
Officer of the
Provost Marshal General’s Office, Captain
Johnson, then suggested to the Military Attaché that if the Russian Embassy could explain to the Representatives of the sect of Molokans the effect of registration, they might be able to induce the members of that sect in
Arizona and
California to submit themselves to registration and that upon information that this step had been taken, the Office of the
Provost Marshal General would be very pleased to take the matter up with the Officers of the Department of
Justice and that, no doubt, these people could be released from criminal responsibility for their failure to register.
By direction of General Crowder:
(s) Hugh S. Johnson
Captain of Cavalry,
Executive
Officer.
