File No. 763.72/3748b
This Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Russia ( Francis)
1299. You are instated to announce to the Minister of Foreign Affairs that the Congress of the United States on the 6th formally declared and the President proclaimed a state of war to exist between the United States and the Imperial German Government.
You may say to Doctor Milyukov that the United States in thus arraying itself against the greatest enemy and menace to democracy in the world does so with a feeling of confidence in the ultimate, triumph of those principles of liberty and justice which it has main tained for nearly a centuty and civilized nations lies the hope of universal peace.
You may also say that the States rejoice that the great Russian people have joined the powerful democracies which are struggling against autocracy and wish to express to the Russian nation their sincere gratification that thus a [Page 21] new bond of friendship is added to those which have so long united the peoples of the two countries. It is the earnest hope and expectation of this Government that a Russia inspired by these great ideals will realize more than ever the duty which it owes to humanity and the necessity of preserving internal harmony in order that as a united and patriotic nation it may overcome the autocratic power which by force and intrigue menaces the democracy which the Russian people have proclaimed.