860m.01/60
The Acting Secretary of State to Mr. Jonas Vileišis
Sir: The Department has received your letter of August 9, 1920, enclosing a telegram in regard to an agreement reached between representatives of Lithuania and the Russian Soviets; stating that certain events of serious significance have occurred which to you seem to imply the necessity of a change of some kind in the relations between America and the people of Lithuania; submitting in some detail your interpretation of recent events and in conclusion again requesting “that the Government of the United States extend recognition to the Government of Lithuania.”
In reply your attention is called to the letters from this Department to the Lithuanian National Council of October 15, 1919,46 to the Lithuanian Executive Committee of January 7, 1920,47 and to the note from this Department to the Italian Ambassador,48 which was published in the press on August 11, 1920, in which the policy of the American Government towards the larger problem, of which the [Page 659] situation of your people is an excellent example, was clearly stated. The Department sees no reason to modify that statement.
However, some comments have appeared in the public press which interpret this statement of friendly purpose towards Russia as a rebuff to the non-Russian peoples along the border, who aspire to a fuller and freer national life.
This Government has held constantly to the belief that Russia—the Russia of 1917—must herself be a party to any readjustments of her frontiers. The American people sympathize with the desire of the non-Russian people along the border for the largest possible measure of self-government, but it believes that any attempt to reach a permanent settlement of the complicated problems involved, without the consultation and cordial consent of a government generally recognized as representing the great Russian people, will be futile. Unless all parties in interest can reach an amicable agreement among themselves there is no hope for permanent tranquility.
I am [etc.]