File No. 861.00/1641
The French Ambassador (Jusserand) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 23.]
Mr. Secretary of State: My Government forwarded to me a telegram just sent to it by the Ambassador of France at Tokyo concerning the attitude of the Japanese Government toward an eventual action in Siberia. Thinking that these data may prove of interest to your excellency at this time when the importance of the question of intervention is daily growing, I hasten to give you hereinbelow the substance of that telegram:
In the course of a conversation he had with the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, who is acting during Mr. Motono’s illness, Mr. Regnault was told that the Japanese Government would give assurances that it would not interfere in the domestic affairs of Russia. But the Vice Minister believes that these assurances should not be formulated with excessive clearness and precision, as any cooperation with the Maximalists would in his opinion be directly antagonistic to the contemplated goal which is to repress anarchy and combat the Germans. A rapprochement with the Trotsky government would beforehand estrange all the sound elements of the Russian people who mainly yearn for the restoration of order and would compel Japan to forsake, if not to deliver up Semenov, who has had the Entente’s support.
The Vice Minister added that according to reports received from the Japanese Consul at Moscow the Soviet Commissioners make no secret of the intention to use the Russian Army, which the Bolshevik government is trying to organize, not against the Germans but [Page 129] against the enemy at home. In organizing and arming prisoners of war the Bolsheviki give further evidence of their subserviency to Germany and there is no doubt left that every attempt to find support on their side must be given up.
In conclusion the Vice Minister expressed the thought that the American Government, being made aware of the true situation, will kindly approve the contemplated projects and will not withhold its support from the Japanese Government.
Be pleased to accept [etc.]