File No. 763.72/5004

The Secretary of State to the Russian Chargé ( Onou)

No. 215

Sir: Referring to your note No. 300, of April 21, 1917,1 transmitting a communication from your Government relative to the question of the naval’ defense of the Arctic coast of Russia, I now have the honor to state, for the confidential information of the Russian Government, that this Department is in receipt of a letter from the Secretary of the Navy, dated May 31, 1917, stating that it has been decided, for the present, to employ all of the United States forces concentrated in one area, and that this will serve to release British forces which can be devoted to the protection of the Russian Arctic route.

Accept [etc.]

Robert Lansing
  1. Ante, p. 32.