Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, 1919, Russia

861.00/3913: Telegram

The Commission to Negotiate Peace to the Acting Secretary of State

Paris, February 24, 1919, 10 p.m.
[Received February 25, 1:50 a.m.]

893. William C. Bullitt, W. W. Pettit and R. E. Lynch have proceeded to London en route Copenhagen. Lincoln Steffens⁶⁶ is traveling with them though not of the party. Bullitt will endeavor to enter into unofficial relations with some representative of the Soviet Government for the purpose of obtaining permission to proceed to Petrograd. His mission is entirely unofficial and for information purposes solely.⁶⁷ He will so inform the Soviet representative with whom he deals and endeavor to obtain necessary assurances relative to facilities for communication and guarantees of personal safety for his party.

Bullitt will inform the Embassy at London and the Legation a Copenhagen of the purpose and character of his mission. He will furnish similar information confidentially to the British Government.

Lansing

Am[erican] Mission

66. American journalist.
67. No copy of the letter of instructions from Secretary of State Lansing to Mr. Bullitt nor of the letter of credentials from the Secretary of the Commission to Negotiate Peace to Mr. Bullitt, both dated Feb. 18, 1919, printed in S. Doc. 106, 66th Cong., 1st sess., p. 1234, has been found in Department files.