861.00/5366: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Commission to Negotiate Peace
3427. For Polk: the following is for Rathbone20 from Glass.
“Refer to cable No. 4598, October 9, 12 p.m., from American Mission to Secretary of State relative to repatriation of Czecho-Slovak, Polish and other troops in Siberia.
As you recall, upon the initiative of State Department, the President authorized me to establish credits up to $12,000,000 in favor of Czecho-Slovakia for repatriation Czecho-Slovak troops in Siberia. The State Department did not request that credits be established in favor of any other governments for this purpose. Our first knowledge that there are also Polish and Jugo-Slav troops in Siberia was obtained from above-mentioned cable. You are aware of our difficulties in establishing credits in favor of Poland, and as the repatriation of the Czecho-Slovak troops is essentially an inter-allied undertaking which, if anything, concerns England and France more than the United States, I consider it illogical and inadvisable for the United States Government to assume the entire burden of this undertaking. Although the situation apparently requires immediate action, it seems inadvisable for the United States to begin without a previous specific agreement with France and England as to what portion of the service or credits they will supply. It appears that Supreme Council on October 1 decided that a commission composed of one American, British, French, Italian and Japanese officer should be created to deal with the repatriation of German, Austrian and Hungarian prisoners in Siberia, and also, the Czecho-Slovak, Polish, Jugo-Slav and Roumanian troops in Siberia. Logan was designated as the American member. In view of this official inter-allied action, it makes it all the more important that the other countries concerned should join in supplying a share of the services or credits required, and that the United States should not undertake this alone, or proceed without a definite agreement as to the respective participations of the other governments. As the principal expenditure involved will be for tonnage, it may be difficult for France [Page 307] to supply any tonnage, but certainly England must have at least as much available tonnage for that purpose as the United States. Our suggestion to the State Department was that the United States would establish credits up to half of the amount required to cover the expenditures of the entire undertaking, provided France and England would supply the balance. If it is found that France cannot supply anything, then it would seem that England should supply at least as much tonnage as we do and Japan might also assist. Instead of obtaining any prestige from the undertaking, as indicated in the cable above referred to, I am afraid we would distinctly lose prestige if we show any preference in favor of one nationality over another, and if we start this movement without a distinct satisfactory understanding with the other governments concerned as to what they will do we would most probably have to complete the job or lose more prestige. I suggest that you discuss matter with Polk and Mission and with their approval or in cooperation with them, take the matter up with the governments concerned. As we cannot establish credits in favor of Poland you can probably arrange with the other governments that this shall be a joint undertaking, but that each government will handle its share in its own way and that we will take Czecho-Slovak obligations for our proportionate share of services rendered or expenditures incurred. This question evidently requires immediate settlement, and I authorize you to make such agreement or arrangement as you think advisable under the circumstances. I am prepared to establish in favor of Czecho-Slovakia a credit for such portion of the $12,000,000 credit authorized by the President as you may recommend. If you think it advisable you might allow the Servian and Roumanian governments to use for the expense of repatriating their subjects a portion of the unexpended balances of loans made to them for relief. Carter Glass, Secretary of the Treasury.”
Following is for Polk and Logan from Secretary of State:
The Secretary of the Treasury informs me that he has empowered Rathbone directly to act for him in order to facilitate the negotiations being brought to a definite issue at an early date.
In this same connection Department begs to submit following answers to your 4598 October 9, 12 p.m.:
- 1st.
- Your assumption that Poles, Jugo-Slavs and Roumanians can be financed from American credits does not appear practicable as a direct measure in view of foregoing instructions to Rathbone although apparently it may be overcome as a practical difficulty if in accepting only Czecho-Slovak obligations we nevertheless under arrangements made by the Inter-Allied Commission at Paris include Roumanian, Polish and Jugo-Slav troops in the quota allocated to us for transportation or make arrangement for Servia and Roumania to use unexpended balance of loans made to them for relief.
- 2d.
- From Department’s experience in repatriating about 4000 wounded from Vladivostok to Trieste cost apparently should not exceed $250 per man. Will confirm this after further conference with Hines.
- 3d.
- The Secretary of War has approved the designation of General Hines who will consequently have entire charge of the actual [Page 308] operations in connection with our share of the movement. We are obtaining from the Shipping Board actual names of ships to be used and shall then in conference with Hines be able to give you approximate date when first troops could be embarked from Vladivostok together with weekly embarkations thereafter.
- 4th.
- Your telegram would indicate you are not quite clear as to route to be used. We intend to send them from Vladivostok to Trieste by way of Suez Canal and not by Panama Canal or United States. However the route is a detail which will be handled for this Government by General Hines.
- 5th.
- Your reference to our 330322 and 331722 regarding enemy prisoners of war has been noted and we will defer asking decision in this matter until movement of friendly troops is well under way.
- 6th.
- Your 4522 October 24th [4], was answered by our 3378 October 9, 11 A.M.
- 7th.
- From the foregoing you will see that this Government has taken all preliminary steps and is willing to act at once but in deference to views of the Treasury which is responsible for the use made of loans, and furthermore because the total funds available, namely $12,000,000, are inadequate for the whole movement of 72,000 men, the Department must insist upon an explicit statement from the other governments concerned that they will see the movement through to completion by contributing their quota. Unless such assurance is given I see no alternative except to abandon all attempts to get the men out this winter and advise the governments concerned of the reasons which forced such a decision. The necessity for an early decision remains and I hope you can let me hear as soon as possible what is finally settled.