File No. 861.00/3054
The French Ambassador (Jusserand) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 21.]
Mr. Secretary of State: The Ambassador of Russia to Paris has communicated to the French Government a telegram in which the Directory constituted at Ufa sets forth its program for the restoration of a provisional government of all Russia and applies for recognition by the Allies.
Although the program which is no doubt known to the American Government is satisfactory as to its principles, the degree of influence on the masses that may be possessed by the five directors, two of whom, Mr. Chaikovski and Mr. Vologodski, were absent from Ufa at the time it was drawn up, is not sufficiently demonstrated to enable the Government of the Republic to grant them official recognition. Any other course of action would run counter to the policy which the Allies have proclaimed under all circumstances and which consists in non-intervention in Russian domestic policy and in not favoring one party or government to the injury of any other.
It is through its acts, if it succeeds in developing its resources, in reestablishing the right to tax, and in carrying into practice the plan for the reorganization of the Russian Army work at Ufa and Omsk by General Boldyrev and General Ivanov, that the Directory will demonstrate that it is a real government enjoying the required stability, and will thus draw nearer to recognition by the Allies.
The Government of the Republic, however, thinks that it should not go so far as to refrain from getting into touch with the men of good will who, without outside help, have succeeded in constituting an embryo of government centralization and in forming a union with the provisional governments of Archangel and Omsk in the same way as the latter government appears itself to have absorbed the divergent combinations of Harbin and Vladivostok.
The large number of ethnical and economic parties or groups that the Ufa Directory represents and the general principles by which it is guided cannot but induce the Allies to extend to it some assistance, particularly of a financial character, and to keep in touch with it through consular officers who may watch its proceedings, furnish it advice, and keep us informed of the cause of events.
In order not to let the declaration of the Ufa Directory go unanswered and to avoid any possible difficulties among the cobelligerents, my Government has instructed me to submit to your excellency the enclosed draft, which in its opinion suits the circumstances.
[Page 413]I should be very thankful to your excellency, if you would kindly let me know as soon as possible if your own views agree with those hereinabove stated.
Be pleased to accept [etc.]