File No. 861.77/573

The Ambassador in Japan ( Morris ) to the Secretary of State

[Telegram]

I forwarded to Stevens the plan of railway operation informally suggested by the Japanese Government and reported in my December 3, 1 a.m. In a telegram just received he comments as follows:

December 5, 4 p.m. Your cable December 2, 7 p.m. The proposed plan means that Russians direct operations as now and that new technical board would only act as adviser with Russians under no obligations whatever to act upon advice which they certainly would not do. My long experience with them demonstrates this beyond question; the railway officials not only ignore our advice but flout and fairly insult our men not one of whom would remain as adviser unless forced to do so. For months I have urged that the only practical way would be for some one other than Russians [to] [Page 292] be given supreme authority whose orders must be obeyed. I can not change my opinion as I know proposed plan would result in absolute failure. The changes from our plan are not only in form but utterly radical and would emasculate the entire plan. Russians are satisfied with their own technical staff; they only want money; would be glad to see us out of the country. If for diplomatic reasons they should continue their mismanagement, then all required is an Allied military board to coordinate military movements. Under the proposed plan chairman would be figurehead, board would be a farce. Sorry can not agree with you but in view our many discussions where we always agreed I can not understand what has occurred to change your views. I can not accept ambiguous position suggested or recommend the plan.

While I greatly value Stevens’s practical judgment, I regret his unwillingness to make a trial of this plan. With the promised cooperation of the Japanese authorities, I believe he would have in fact the necessary power. He is convinced that he would not. As the responsibility will be his, we must assume that he is right. Upon hearing from you I am prepared to try once more.

Morris