File No. 861.00/2719b

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Russia (Francis)

[Telegram]

253. The American Ambassador at Tokyo has been ordered to proceed informally to Vladivostok and report to the Department his views as to how the purpose of the United States to assist Russia may be furthered under the conditions which he will find to exist there. His reports will be for the special information of the Department and his stay at Vladivostok will be unofficial and temporary.

The following supplementary instructions have been sent him today: [Here follows telegram to the Ambassador in Japan, dated September 9, 1918, 5 p.m., ante, page 372.]

Lansing