File No. 861.77/543
The Ambassador in Japan (Morris) to the Secretary of State
[Received 9.23 p.m.]
[From Stevens:]
Referring to Ambassador’s cable of even date1 regarding railway matter. My certain conviction is that any division of authority would result in utter failure to secure necessary efficiency. The basic principle of successful management is centralized authority and responsibility. As the situation now exists, complicated by Russian helplessness and venality, not only would failure result, but owing to high-handed interference and autocratic methods practiced by Japanese in Russian railway affairs serious troubles would be inevitable which might produce international complications. A Japanese [Page 282] director with equal authority backed by exclusively Japanese troops, could enforce his orders against my judgment leaving me helpless, and the great difference between American and Japanese railway practices, and the very manifest intention of the latter to install their own men everywhere would make irreconcilable views absolutely certain.
I am safe in saying that not a member of our service corps would work under any plan that involved Japanese management directly or indirectly. The plan of divided authority as suggested would simply result in sole Japanese control, would make Americans figureheads or worse. The long-time antipathy of the Russians towards the Japanese would be intensified to a degree that nothing less than military force would make the railway machine move at all. The fraternal feeling of the Russians towards Americans would disappear and it already gives unmistakable signs of weakening. Instead of helping Russia the plan would help Japan to strengthen and make secure her grip upon Russia’s eastern provinces and northern Manchuria. A false move at this critical juncture would be barrier to American influence and place us, in Russian eyes, in a position of backing Japan in a plan to disintegrate Russian territory and impair her sovereignty. They are looking to us for material aid and are already discounting our words, being encouraged in this, I believe, by powerful interests. In view of the certain failure of such divided management resulting in even worse conditions than now prevail, and the false position in [into] which Americans would be forced and their prestige destroyed, it would not be possible for me to assume a share in such a management.
- Not printed.↩