Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, The Lansing Papers, 1914–1920, Volume II

861.00/2292½a

The Secretary of State to President Wilson

Washington, July 8, 1918 .

My Dear Mr. President: In connection with the Siberian Affair I would like to call your attention to two matters which I think should be considered at once.

First: As Chinese troops are holding the Manchurian Railway east, and I believe west, of Harbin, ought they or ought they not to be considered in connection with the guarding of the Siberian Railroad in aid of the Czecho-Slovaks?

Second: Ought we or ought we not to advise the Allied Governments, including the Chinese, of our program before we hear from Tokio? There is the possibility that the Japanese may consult them before we mention the matter. If they do, we may be embarrassed in our relations with those Governments who will consider us not frank. I am very sure that a secretive attitude will deeply offend Reading and Jusserand, and, to a lesser degree, Cellere and Koo. My own disposition is to be candid with them, now that the Japanese Government has had time to consider our proposed program.

Faithfully yours,

Robert Lansing