File No. 861.77/548
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Japan (Morris)
Referring to your November 12, 4 p.m., and previous telegrams regarding Siberian situation, also Department’s September 24, 8 [Page 285] p.m.,1 explaining this Government’s whole purpose in regard to railways, please take up frankly with the Japanese Government the following points. …
(3) In suggesting that Mr. Stevens assume charge of railway operations, as representing Russia and not the United States or any interest of the United States, this Government had the express intention not to modify any previously existing rights of Russia or China. The memorandum of agreement, approved by all the Allied representatives at Vladivostok and by Russian authorities, expressly provides for supervision by international or Russian control and not by any one power. In other words, every measure advocated by this Government has had the purpose of avoiding a monopoly of control creating conditions such as would arouse alarm or suspicion. Moreover, in the opinion of this Government, the question of railway operation is a practical one which the welfare of the Russian people requires should be met by practical measures. Such practical measures of assistance had already been undertaken by the United States, acting in behalf of Russia, in 1917 when Mr. Stevens was requested by the Russian railway administration to secure the assistance of the Russian Railway Service Corps. Furthermore this Government is convinced that a divided control of the operation of the Siberian Railway system is foredoomed to failure. …
- Printed in full, ibid., p. 433.↩
- Ante, p. 267.↩