861.00/1895½
President Wilson to the Secretary of State
My Dear Mr. Secretary: I do not know what to say by way of comment on these papers that I have not already said repeatedly. The two parts of this question (as you properly discriminate them) must not and cannot be confused and discussed together. Semenov is changing the situation in Siberia very rapidly, apparently; and General March and the Staff are clear and decided in their opinion that (1) no strong enough force to amount to anything can be sent to Murmansk without subtracting just that much shipping and man power from the western front, and (2) that such a subtraction at the present crisis would be most unwise.
They believe, moreover, that there is no sufficient military force, in Japan or elsewhere, to do anything effective in Siberia.
[Page 362]Please follow very attentively what Semenov is accomplishing and whether there is any legitimate way in which we can assist.
Faithfully Yours,