File No. 861.00/3277

The Acting Secretary of State to the Lithuanian National Council

Gentlemen: The Department has received your letter of November 25, 1918,2 submitting a report made to the executive committee of the Lithuanian National Council by the secretary of the delegation sent to the Lithuanian committee in Switzerland for the purpose of investigating the present political situation in Lithuania. The Department notes that the Lithuanian National Council requests:

(1)
That the newly organized state council in Lithuania be recognized as the representative body of the Lithuanian nation and as the provisional government of the country;
(2)
That the United States render military assistance by sending to Lithuania ammunition and instructors for organizing and equipping a Lithuanian army to maintain peace in the country and assist in reconstruction work;
(3)
To assist the provisional government of Lithuania in obtaining the necessary credit for a loan of $10,000,000 for reconstruction work.

The United States has not been unmindful of the aspirations of Lithuanians to manage their own affairs and will see that the American delegation to the peace conference is advised of the measures which the Lithuanian National Council advocates. At the same time you are informed that the Department is not prepared to recognize any new government in Lithuania at present and is furthermore [Page 857] of the opinion that the question of military assistance is one for consideration by the War Council in Versailles.

I am [etc.]

For the Acting Secretary of State:
William Phillips
  1. Not printed.