File No. 861.00/3680
The Secretary of State to the Secretary of the Navy (Daniels)
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of August 20, 1918, enclosing the weekly report of the commanding officer of the U.S.S. Olympia dated July 6, 1918, in which while reporting conditions in the Murmansk region of Russia he transmits:
- (a)
- A declaration and resolution of the Murmansk District Council, and
- (b)
- A temporary agreement between the representatives of the Allies and the Murmansk Region Council, to the latter of which the commanding officer of the Olympia was a signatory, and whose action in signing this agreement has been provisionally approved by Vice Admiral Sims.
After careful consideration of the agreement in question you express the opinion that it is sound in principle and should meet with [Page 557] the approval of this Government, and request that if this Department concurs therein you may be so informed in order that the agreement may receive final approval.
In view of the fact that the agreement in question sets forth that all authority in the internal government of the region belongs to the Murmansk Region Council and that the representatives of Great Britain, France and the United States do not interfere in the internal affairs of the region, this Department perceives no reason why the commander of the U.S.S. Olympia should not be informed that the agreement meets with the approval of this Government.1
In accordance with your request, the correspondence in your communication under acknowledgment is herewith returned.
I have [etc.]