861.77/1614: Telegram
The President of the Technical Board (Stevens) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 20—6:34 a.m.]
Your cable July 15, 6 p.m.58 I would not take any steps that would endanger the success of negotiations but if the idea is to continue railway agreement in its present form I would have nothing [Page 702] to do with it as it is a farce which has not been respected by anybody. Whoever undertakes to run railway must be given full authority which can be enforced. I have had no support from the military of any nation in the enforcement of any order or instructions; … Besides the matter of absolute control, provision must be made for finances to be placed in presenting [under international?] control, for the Russians have not the slightest idea of economy. The Allied Committee should be done away with; it has been of no positive service and in some respects handicap; passing resolutions without any serious attempt or power to make them effective gets nowhere in this country. Committee has no practical knowledge of railways and their activities are about what might be expected. I can easily understand why negotiations proceed slowly; a certain people playing for time until they stack cards here when their real plans will become clear to everyone. I will await further information from the Department before acting, asking a reply as soon as possible.
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