861.00/5556: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Commission to Negotiate Peace
3857. For Rathbone from Glass. Treasury R–70. Reference my unnumbered October 15,31 concerning Czecho-Slovaks and Mission’s 4937, October 31, 11 p.m., your R–27.
- 1st:
- State Department advises that it is of unusual importance from political point of view that movement homeward of the Czecho-Slovak troops now in Siberia should be begun without further delay and states that question of their return is now occasion for great popular concern in Czecho-Slovakia. States further we have a distinct obligation to these troops growing out of resistance which they set up at various times to Central Powers and the contribution which they made to our victory. Secretary of State advises it seems to him proper and necessary that we should discharge this obligation as a part of the general liquidation of war measures.
- 2d:
- State Department therefore urges that without waiting for
agreement of Great Britain or other Allies credit be established
immediately in favor of Czecho-Slovaks up to $12,000,000 to be used
so far as necessary for moving one-half of the Czecho-Slovaks now in
Siberia reported to number 55,000 in all and states that it is
desirable that the question of the repatriation of the Jugo-Slavs
and other nationalities be treated as a separate problem. State
Department takes position that in beginning the repatriation we do
not incur any obligation, either moral or legal, to continue the
movement beyond one-half of the Czecho-Slovak troops now in Siberia
and that obligation of taking care of the remainder must be made to
rest clearly and unequivocally upon Great Britain and other Allies,
[Page 316]
especially as Supreme
Council has already recommended and directed the movement. State
Department believes this can be accomplished by advising principal
Allied Governments, the Government of Czecho-Slovakia and the
Czecho-Slovak Commander in Siberia substantially as follows:
“Being impressed with the need for beginning at once the movement homeward of the Czecho-Slovak troops now in Siberia and in order to avoid the delay inevitably involved in the arrangements for which the consent of several Governments is required, the Government of the United States has agreed to open for the Government of Czecho-Slovakia a credit not to exceed $12,000,000, or such less part thereof as may be sufficient to repatriate one-half of the Czecho-Slovak troops now in Siberia, reported to number 55,000 in all. In undertaking to move one-half of these troops, the United States considers that it is discharging all or more than its share of any moral obligation which may rest in this respect upon the Allied and Associated Governments, and it must leave to the Government of Czecho-Slovakia in connection with the other Allied and Associated Governments the arrangements respecting the repatriation of the remainder.”
- 3d:
- In view of urgency stated by Department of State to exist, I am prepared, if you think it advisable, to establish credit up to $12,000,000 for the purpose of repatriating one-half of the Czecho-Slovak troops now in Siberia upon the understandings above set out and upon the further understanding that so much of said credit as is not required for that purpose shall be withdrawn.
- 4th:
- Am inclined to believe that if we begin repatriation of Czecho-Slovak troops without first obtaining express agreement from British as to share which they will undertake, we cannot be certain that they will move the remaining half and that we shall then be subject to great pressure to induce us to move remaining Czecho-Slovaks, at least to extent of balance of $12,000,000 credit not required for movement of first half of the troops, and may even be subjected to demands equally urgent to establish further credit.
- 5th:
- See also possibility of creating delicate situation by reason of our discriminating in favor of Czecho-Slovaks and refusing to move even part of Poles, Roumanians and Jugo-Slavs. Have received, however, from Secretary of State letter advising that circumstances under which Poles, Roumanians and Jugo-Slavs were in Russia were different from those under which Czecho-Slovaks went into Russia and that consequently we are not under any obligation to them.
- 6th:
- I am willing to be guided by your judgment as to whether importance of immediate repatriation of Czecho-Slovak troops in [Page 317] Siberia outweighs these considerations and if you so advise shall establish credit as above mentioned leaving it to you in case you consider it desirable to do so upon receipt hereof to advise Polk that we are prepared to comply with State Department’s request in order that repatriation may begin without waiting for agreement of British as to their share. Carter Glass, Secretary of the Treasury.