File No. 861.77/150a
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Russia ( Francis )
1630. For Stevens by direction of the President:
The President appreciates very highly what Mr. Stevens and his associates are doing in Russia but thinks it wise to remind Mr. Stevens [Page 197] that it is important that the impression should not be created that he and his associates represent or speak for the Government of the United States. As the President explained to the commission before they started, they were sent abroad merely to put themselves at the service of the Russian Government. Any assurances conveyed to the Russian people, therefore, as if authoritatively by the commission would be a very grave mistake. The President does not wish in this way to discredit assurances already given but merely to convey a very friendly caution for the future.