File No. 861.77/573

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

[Telegram]

Your telegram December 6, 3 p.m., and my earlier telegram of to-day. The Department is aware of the obvious difficulties of the proposed plan but believes that it should be given a fair trial by all concerned in view of the fact that winter is at hand and that something must be done immediately to improve the present intolerable condition of transportation facilities. The Secretary, and presumably the President, has approved by wireless your proceeding to Vladivostok to present plan to Stevens and it is earnestly hoped that he will consent. No agreement can succeed unless it can be arranged for the Russians to follow advice and carry out instructions and this Government would decline to have Stevens placed in a position where his special capacity can not be made effective. Please so inform him and at your discretion urge upon the Japanese authorities, whose sincere cooperation is relied upon, such further modifications of the plan as actual practice shall demonstrate to be necessary to accomplish the desired result.

Polk