File No. 861.00/2430
The Ambassador in Japan (Morris) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 8, 10.05 a.m.]
The Minister for Foreign Affairs intimated to me to-day his serious concern over the report from the Japanese Consul at Vladivostok that our Government would send 10,000 troops to aid the Czechs. The consul stated that he learned [this] from Admiral Knight.
May I take this occasion to suggest the wisdom of limiting our present contingent to 7,000 as originally suggested to the Japanese Government? The Ministry has secured the support of the General Staff on this assumption. Should we now enlarge our force I fear it would make a most unfortunate impression.