The Lansing Papers

The following contains sections from the Lansing Papers Volume II regarding the U.S. Intervention in Siberia, 1918-1920. Lansing was Secretary of State under the Wilson administration from 1915-1920.

Foreign Relations of the United States, The Lansing Papers, 1914-1920, Volume II, pg. 346-396, United States Government Printing Office, Washington: 1940, S1.1/c:v.2

Documents are indexed by date, subject and page number. To access click on link.

1918

Jan. 2 To President Wilson 346

    Discussion of the Bolshevik communication of December 29, 1917, addressed to the peoples and governments of the Allied countries. Expresses opinion that no reply should be made.

Jan. 10 To President Wilson 349

    Encloses draft statement (text printed) to be issued by the Secretary of State outlining the attitude of the United States Government toward the Russian situation.

- Jan. 20 From President Wilson 351

    Discussion of Japanese naval activity at Vladivostok.

Jan. 24 To President Wilson 351

    Inquires whether the telegram sent to the Ambassador in Japan on January 20 regarding proposals for Japanese action in Vladivostok and in Siberia would be sufficient for the time.

Jan. 28 From President Wilson 352

    Expresses opinion that the action referred to in the preceding document would be sufficient for the present.

Feb. 15 To President Wilson 352

    Discussion of policy to be adopted toward revolutionary forces in Europe and toward the proposed Socialist meeting at Stockholm.

Feb. 27 To President Wilson 353

    Reports interviews with the British and French Ambassadors regarding Japanese desire to occupy Siberia with a military force.

Undated Draft Telegram to the Ambassador in Japan 355

    Intended to indicate the unwillingness of the United States to join the Allied Governments in asking the Japanese Government to act in Siberia.

(Footnote: This draft was handed to Secretary Lansing on March 1. It was shown to the British, French, and Italian Ambassadors but was not sent.)

Mar. 5 From the Counselor for the Department of State 356

    Reports interviews with the British, French, Italian, and Japanese Ambassadors regarding the Siberian situation.

Mar. 21 To President Wilson 357

    Transmits telegrams received by the British Ambassador from the Foreign Office dealing with the Siberian situation.

Mar. 22 From President Wilson 357

    Does not regard the papers received from the British Ambassador as sufficient cause for altering the American position on Siberia.

Mar. 24 To President Wilson 357

    Considerations regarding possible occupation of important points in Siberia by a German military force.

Undated (Rec’d May 18) From the Japanese Ambassador 359

    Conveys the substance of a note exchanged between the Japanese and Chinese Governments on March 25, 1918, regarding consultation on the subject of the penetration of German influence into Russian territories in the Far East.

Apr. 8 From the British Embassy 359

    Informs of the receipt of a telegram from the Foreign Office regarding employment of American railway experts in Russia.

Apr. 18 From President Wilson 360

    Requests a memorandum containing information about nuclei of self-government in Siberia.

May 16 To President Wilson 360

    Reports interviews with the British Ambassador who presented two memoranda regarding intervention in Russia and Siberia.

May 20 From President Wilson 361

    Comments on the papers presented by the British Ambassador regarding intervention in Russia and Siberia.

June 13 To President Wilson 362

    Suggests the creation of a "Commission for the Relief of Russia" to be headed by Mr. Hoover, and to be guided in all questions of foreign policy by the Department of State.

June 17 From President Wilson 363

    Comments on the suggestion of the Minister in China that Czecho-Slovak troops might be organized to resist the Germans in Siberia.

June 19 To President Wilson 363

    Forwards a report from the Consul at Moscow regarding the sentiments of the Russian Cooperative Societies.

June 19 From President Wilson 364

    Expresses opinion that the Russian Cooperative Societies may be useful forces in Siberia.

June 23 To President Wilson 364

    Expresses belief that the Czecho-Slovak forces in Siberia might form a nucleus for military occupation of the Siberian railway.

June 26 From the Japanese Ambassador 365

    Transmits paraphrased copy (text printed) of a telegram received from the Japanese Government regarding the Japanese reply to the proposal of the Allied Governments to undertake common action in Siberia.

July 1 From Lt. Col. Raymond Robins 365

    Forwards a statement of recommendations concerning the Russian situation (text printed) containing suggestions for American economic cooperation with Russia.

July 8 To President Wilson 372

    Inquires whether Chinese troops holding the Manchurian railway ought to be considered in connection with the guarding of the Siberian railway in aid of the Czecho-Slovaks and whether the Allied Governments, including the Chinese, ought to be advised of the proposed American policy with regard to Siberia.

July 10 To President Wilson 373

    Reports a conversation with the Japanese Ambassador on the subject of the command of the combined forces in Siberia.

Aug. 16 From the British Charge 373

    Informs that the British Government have accepted the view of the Japanese Government that the supreme command of the Allied forces in Siberia should be Japanese.

Aug. 18 To President Wilson 374

    Discusses the extension of Japanese military activities in Siberia. Encloses a communication (text printed) from Japanese Foreign Office to Japanese Ambassador concerning the situation at Manchuli. Encloses a communication from the French Ambassador (text printed) conveying information received about the military situation in Siberia. Encloses a telegram (text printed) from Admiral Knight to the Secretary of the Navy requesting the extension of American assistance to the Czecho-Slovaks.

Aug. 22 To President Wilson 378

    Transmits a communication from the French Embassy proposing the sending of a High Commissioner to Siberia. Recommends that reply be made that the American Government does not intend to appoint a High Commissioner.

Aug. 23 From President Wilson 378

    Approves Secretary Lansing’s proposed reply to the French Embassy indicating that the American Government does not intend to appoint a High Commissioner in Siberia.

Aug. 29 To President Wilson 379

    Discussion of the question of supplies for the Czecho-Slovaks in Siberia.

Sept. 2 From President Wilson 380

    Suggests a conference with Mr. Baruch on the question of supplies for the Czecho-Slovaks in Siberia. Comments on the relationship between the Japanese and Czecho-Slovak military forces.

Sept. 4 To President Wilson 380

    Suggests the possibility of a loan to the Czecho-Slovak National Council for the purchase in this country of supplies for Czecho-Slovaks in Siberia.

Sept. 5 From President Wilson 381

    Disapproves Secretary Lansing’s suggestion of a loan for the purchase of supplies for the Czecho-Slovaks in Siberia.

Sept. 5 To President Wilson 381

    Reports a conversation with Mr. Baruch regarding Czecho-Slovak relief.

Sept. 9 To President Wilson 381

    Discussion of the question of supplies for the Czecho-Slovak military forces in Siberia and Russia, relief of the civilian population in Siberia, and assistance to the civilian population on the Murman Coast and in the Archangel District.

Sept. 14 To the General Director of the Foreign Section of the Committee on Public Information 384

    Requests the postponement of publication of documents attacking Lenin and Trotsky in order to insure the safety of Americans in Russia.

Sept. 14 From the General Director of the Foreign Section of the Committee on Public Information 385

    Expresses belief that publication of the documents would not add to the peril of Americans in Russia.

       

 

Sept. 17 From President Wilson 385

    Instructs that inquiry should be made of the British, French, and Italian Governments as to the nature and authority of the so-called Allied Military Council at Vladivostok and that intimation be given that the American Government does not recognize the authority of such a body.

Sept. 20 From President Wilson 386

    Comments on a telegram from the Secretary of War regarding M. Clemenceau’s request that additional American troops be sent to Murmansk.

Sept. 24 To President Wilson 386

    Discussion of the position of the Czecho-Slovak force west of the Urals.

Sept. 27 To President Wilson 388

    Informs that Secretary Lansing had been told by the Italian Ambassador that Italy would send no High Commissioner to Siberia and that the Italian Government desired to conform to the American policy in such matters.

 

Sept. 30 From the President of the Czecho-Slovak 388

    Encloses notes (text printed) on the American memorandum of September 27 on the subject of the military policy of the United States in Russia and Siberia. Comments on the military situation in Russia and Siberia.

1919

Dec. 4 To President Wilson 392

    Expresses opinion that the question of American policy with regard to the Russian situation should be laid before Congress.

Dec. 23 To President Wilson 392

    Encloses a memorandum to be read to the Japanese Ambassador discussing the withdrawal of American forces from Siberia.

1921

Oct. 3 Notes Prepared by Mr. Robert Lansing 393