763.72114/5247a

The Acting Secretary of State to the Czechoslovak Chargé ( Masaryk )

My Dear Mr. Chargé d’affaires: Referring to the views of the Treasury Department expressed on January 9, and also to the conference with Assistant Secretary Long of this Department on December 30, at which you were present, together with General Hines and Mr. Kelley of the Treasury, and at which was discussed the repatriation of the friendly contingents now in Siberia, you will recall that a question was raised as to what troops were to be considered as available for repatriation. I am informed that it is the understanding of the United States Treasury that troops available for repatriation include not only those now in Vladivostok, but the entire contingent of friendly troops now in Siberia heretofore reported as being 72,000 which, in accordance with the decision of the Supreme Council, are to be moved to Vladivostok in the comparatively [Page 564] near future. It is to be hoped that, in accordance with the decision of the Supreme Council, the whole contingent of 72,000 friendly troops now in Siberia will be moved to Pacific ports of embarkation at such times and in such numbers as will keep both our shipping assigned to this work and the British shipping so assigned, fully engaged. However, if in actual practice, this is not possible, it follows that American shipping cannot be held indefinitely at Pacific ports waiting to receive troops, and, therefore, in this contingency it would have to be withdrawn and our obligations in the premises, financial or otherwise, considered as fulfilled. I understand that the British and French authorities have been advised accordingly, and that this information has also been communicated to General Janin.

In this connection I may add, the Treasury Department has advised that it is prepared, in order that the contingency last above mentioned may be avoided, to assent to your Government providing funds out of the credit of $12,000,000 arranged by it, for the repatriation of Polish, Jugo-Slav or Eoumanian troops available for repatriation, provided the total number of troops whose repatriation is provided for out of this credit does not exceed fifty per cent of the total strength of the Czecho-Slovak, Polish, Jugo-Slav and Roumanian contingents in Siberia available for repatriation, and does not exceed 36,000 men. To the extent that funds are provided by your Government against this credit for repatriation of Polish, Jugo-Slav or Roumanian troops, it is assumed that the British Government would receive obligations from the respective governments of such troops to cover the repatriation of a corresponding number of troops of your Government. It is, of course desirable, if practicable, that there should be available for repatriation in our ships enough Czecho-Slovak troops within the limitations already mentioned to make use of the full capacity of the American ships, in order that the complications consequent upon carrying out the above-mentioned suggestion may not arise.

I am [etc.]

Frank L. Polk