861.77/910: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the American Representative on the Inter-Allied Committee (Charles H. Smithy)32
Referring to arrangement between Stevens and Nagao relative to standardizing gauge of railway between Changchun and Harbin, provided the Russian authorities have no objection thereto. Please confer with Mr. Stevens and with Mr. Morris on his return and say that this Government cannot approve any such change, except it be decided by agreement with some duly constituted Russian Government recognized by the Associated Governments.
The Department does not wish to embarrass Mr. Stevens in his having reached a working agreement with Japan, but believes it necessary to point out that this Government interprets “The Russian authorities” referred to in the memorandum drawn up by Mr. Stevens and Mr. Nagao,33 to mean a duly constituted Russian Government recognized by the Associated Governments.