103.96/2458: Telegram
The American member of the Inter-Allied Railway
Committee (Smith) to the
Acting Secretary of State, transmitted by the Consul at
Vladivostok (Caldwell)
Vladivostok, May 28, 1919,
3 p.m.
[Received May 29, 7:22
a.m.]
327. [From Smith:]
Your May 21, 4 p.m.73
Committee April 8 passed resolution asking advance 20 million. At that
time did not know what governments would participate. Resolution was
telegraphed immediately to all governments. France, Japan have not
replied. England very recently replied, each government should advance
money for materials purchased in its own country. Italy replied, she
will not participate. Nothing definite from China but she will not
unless money loaned by some other power.
English and French representatives have again cabled asking immediate
action. Members believe that only England, France, Japan, and America
will participate and have asked that each government advance one million
deposit as requested. Now that Committee know what governments will
participate, definite steps will be taken to adjust matters in future
for prompt action. Smith.
Executive Order No. 3094–A, June 5, 1919,
providing funds for the maintenance or improvement of the
Trans-Siberian and Chinese Eastern Railways
Whereas it has become expedient to dissolve and to liquidate the
affairs of the War Trade Board of United States Russian Bureau
Incorporated, whereof the entire capital stock was purchased with
the sum of $5,000,000 allotted by the President to the War Trade
Board by Executive Order, of October 5, 1918,74 by virtue of the
authority vested in him by “An act making appropriations for sundry
civil expenses of the Government for the fiscal year ending June 30,
1919, and for other purposes”, approved July 1, 1918, appropriating
the sum of $50,000,000, “For the national security and defense and
for each and every purpose connected therewith to be expended at the
discretion of the President”:
I hereby order that any and all sums of money which upon or pursuant
to such dissolution shall accrue or be distributed to the
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War Trade Board or to the
stockholders of said corporation shall be by said board or
stockholders paid into the United States Treasury and returned to
the appropriation aforesaid.
I hereby further order that any and all moneys so paid into the
United States Treasury and returned to the aforementioned
appropriation be, and they hereby are, allotted to the Secretary of
State to be by him expended for purposes connected with the
maintenance or improvement of the Trans-Siberian and Chinese Eastern
Railways and, for such purposes, the Secretary of State may, if he
deems advisable, advance all or any portion of the moneys hereby
allotted to the Inter-Allied committee, which is exercising
supervision over said railways, or to its nominees, upon such terms
as may be specified by the Secretary of State.
The foregoing does not affect in any way the special allotment of
$5,000,000 made to the Secretary of State by the President’s letter
of September 19, 1918,75 from the appropriation for “National Security
and Defense” for the provision of winter supplies for the civilian
population of the Archangel district of Russia, which allotment was
transferred to the War Trade Board of the United States Russian
Bureau, Incorporated, on November 27, 1918, by direction of the
President.
