File No. 861.51/359
The Ambassador in Russia (Francis) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 25, 10.20 a.m.]
423. Also for the Secretary of the Treasury:
Sovereign government needs funds. No reply my 364, August 13, 8 p.m.,1 recommending we join England and France guaranteeing Rs. 15,000,000, 5 per cent, six months, loan secured by merchandise. Lindley2 says British refuse render aid unless financial scheme outlined [Page 71] in my No. 401, September 14, 4 p.m., accepted. When I said I thought reserve should be held America as well as England, replied British expected us to arrange financial scheme for Siberia. What reply made proposition submitted through British Ambassador at Washington? I think proposed scheme excellent if provided for American reserve as well as British. Lindley thinks British Government wedded to plan and will insist upon its adoption, saying England large creditor of France and Italy, but I reminded him United States was also, and had made large advances to England which he admitted, but claimed such advances not exceeding English advances to her allies.