763.72/3787a
The Secretary of State to President Wilson
My Dear Mr. President: We have not, as you know, congratulated the Russian Government or people upon the establishment of democratic institutions in that country; merely recognizing the Government as the one with which we desired intercourse.
[Page 325]I thought, therefore, that it would be worth while, immediately after the declaration of a state of war, to send a telegram to Francis to be communicated to the Russian Government, going a little further than we did in the telegram of recognition.13 I submit for your consideration a draft of such a telegram but in doing so I realize that it can be very materially improved in language.
I hope, if you approve of the plan, you will make the corrections which you desire.14
Faithfully yours,
- Telegram No. 1271, Mar. 20, 1917, to the Ambassador in Russia, Foreign Relations, 1918, Russia, vol. i, p. 12.↩
- On April 6 President Wilson replied: “I have suggested a verbal change here and there in this message, but of course approve it very heartily. Faithfully Yours, W. W.” (File No. 763.72/3788½.) For the telegram as sent, see ibid., p. 20.↩