701.6111/349
Mr. J. H. Fulton of the National City Bank of New York to the Acting Secretary of State
Dear Sir: We beg to acknowledge the receipt of your favor of the 18th instant,16 referring to the demand of L. A. Martens on the Russian Ambassador to the United States.
We understand that Mr. Martens is requesting recognition from you as the representative of the Russian Soviet Republic. Transactions of such great magnitude have been entered into with the representatives of the Provisional Government since December, 1917, and in disregard of the Soviet regime, by reason of the continued recognition of the Provisional Government by the United States, that we wish to urge upon your attention the very great importance, in case his request for recognition should receive any consideration from you, of making any recognition of the present Soviet Administration or its successor apply only to future relations and transactions, so as certainly to avoid the possibility that the recognition may have a retroactive effect within the principle laid down in Oetjen v. Central Leather Co., (246 U.S., 297, 303).
Yours very truly,
General Executive Manager
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