File No. 861.77/494
The Ambassador in France (Sharp) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 25, 8.11 p.m.]
5181. Your 5684, September 21, 3 p.m. Instructions as to repetition London and Rome have been followed. In bringing the subject matter of your telegram to M. Pichon to-day, he informed me that he had already instructed the representatives of the French Government in Japan, China, Great Britain, and Vladivostok of its views on this question, at the same time communicating them to Ambassador Jusserand at Washington.
A written reply from the Minister to my previous representation has now been received to the effect that all French civilian and [Page 268] military agents at present in the extreme east will be invited to give their cooperation in every way possible and without reservation to the American Railway Commission and that the French Government agrees with the Government of the United States in considering that the powers formerly conferred by the Provisional Government of Mr. Kerensky, have lost none of their validity. The note adds that M. Pichon feels it his duty to recall the fact that the whole of the capital stock of the Chinese East[ern] Railway belongs to the Russo-Asiatic Bank, of which more than two thirds of the capital is French but that this reminder of the right of the Russo-Asiatic Bank is solely with the object of making some reservation regarding the activity of Mr. Stevens’s mission in connection with this railroad, the operation of which, far from prejudicing any right, can only consolidate the value, all the more so by reason of the declaration of generous disinterestedness proclaimed by the United States Government. Copy of this note in reply follows in next pouch.