861.00/5860: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Wallace) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 10, 8:56 p.m.]
1719. Your 3978, December 5th.34 We have no information about this matter. Present situation repatriation friendly troops from Siberia is set forth in following letter sent with Rathbone’s approval to the British representative McFadyean35 dated November 8, 1919.
“I understood from our conversation today that you are about to represent your Government in the financial arrangements relative to the repatriation of the friendly troops from Siberia. If I am mistaken in this understanding, can I request you to be good enough to have this letter forwarded very promptly to the proper agent of your Government for his consideration.
The situation regarding the friendly troops in Siberia is the following: the Supreme Council at its meeting about October 1st passed a resolution providing that the repatriation of Czecho-Slovakian, Polish, Yugo-Slavic and Roumanian contingents at present in Siberia, should be repatriated [sic] before the enemy prisoners of war now in that same territory. The Supreme Council also gave its approval to the immediate repatriation of these friendly troops. From my information it appears that the strength of the various contingents are approximately the following, viz: Czecho-Slovaks 54,000, Poles 12,000, Yugo-Slavs 4,000, Roumanians 2,000, total 72,000.
Our understanding of the British position in this matter is that you are under obligations to effect the repatriation of the Czecho-Slovakian contingent but that your Government does not consider itself obligated in any way to the repatriation of the other contingents. This was my understanding from various conversations with Colonel Kisch but so as to give us a solid basis for these negotiations, I request that you ask Colonel Kisch to confirm this.
The French position is that they claim that they have borne all expense of the maintenance of these friendly troops in Siberia since their organization and that on this account they consider their financial responsibility in the premises terminates upon the departure from Siberian ports of embarkation of these contingents and they claim that they are not therefore obligated in any way to provide credits or transportation to European ports. The Italian and Japanese positions are not clear but it is presumed that no help will be forthcoming from these quarters.
Our position is that we desire to help in the present situation and that based on this desire alone we are willing to share in the expense.
The question of repatriation of these troops from Siberia has been brought to a head by representations on the part of the Czecho-Slovakian [Page 319] Government that further retention of their contingents in Siberia might lead to serious internal results in Czecho-Slovakia. Our feeling on the other hand is that the same difficulties would present themselves in Poland, Yugo-Slavia and Roumania were the Principal Allied and Associated Powers to give consideration alone to the Czecho-Slovakian representation and we therefore are of the opinion that the repatriation of all friendly troops from Siberia should be considered at one and the same time.
Subject to the foregoing with the authority of our Treasury Department I made the following proposal to Colonel Kisch viz.: that Great Britain and America agree to the repatriation by each of their governments of 50 per cent of the entire contingent of 72,000 troops, or in other words that if the British Government will undertake the repatriation of 36,000 we in turn will undertake the repatriation of an equal number.
The foregoing proposal was made subject to the following reservations, viz.: that the American Treasury is not in a position to make advance to the governments concerned other than Czecho-Slovakia, though some small amounts may be available for use for Servia and possibly Roumania from advances heretofore made for relief purposes and not fully expended. Therefore in payment of the expenses of the repatriation of these troops the United States Treasury would have to look exclusively to funds provided by the credit to Czecho-Slovakia and the small cash balances available to Servia and Roumania. I understand that your Treasury has not the same legal restrictions as our Treasury in these particulars.
As the strength of the Czecho-Slovak contingent exceeds by much more than one-half the strength of all the contingents together, and in view of my understanding of your position with regard to the Czecho-Slovak contingent, it would appear that the proposed arrangement is entirely equitable and, if I may say so, from a purely financial point of view somewhat in your favor.
Colonel Kisch informs me that he has been endeavoring to get a response from your government as to these proposals but without avail. In view of the urgency of the situation in Siberia could I venture to ask you to be so kind as to press for the earliest possible action on this proposal.
I do not believe your government will accept the French, Italian and Japanese positions and I am quite sure that our government’s position is that they should carry their proper share in this burden. Could I hear from you as soon as possible?”
Situation somewhat complicated by matter referred to in our R–9336 but straightened out by your 3944, December 2nd,36 copy of which was furnished British. Copy of letter above quoted presented officially at Allied Repatriation meeting December 2nd and is therefore on record with all Principal Allied and Associated Governments. We are furnishing Czecho-Slovak, Polish and Servian Governments with copies for their information so they may be properly informed.
[Page 320]As previously reported our whole policy has been directed with view to once and for all definitely settling financially responsibility for repatriation entire block friendly troops in Siberia. We have not agreed with British on any financial plan of piecemeal repatriation these troops, and we are opposed to any such arrangement …
Suggest Department furnish interested Embassies and Legations Washington with information our position and that copy be cabled by War Department to commander United States troops in Siberia.