861.00/3827: Telegram
The Commission to Negotiate Peace to the Acting Secretary of State
[Received 7:17 p.m.]
668. I have sent the following telegram to American Embassy, Archangel, in reply to their February 4th, 4 p.m.:48
“As I feel that the decision which you communicated to the Mission in your telegram number 31, February 4th, 4 p.m.,48 was possibly reached under a mistaken idea of the scope and purposes of the decision of the Government of the United States and the Allies in regard to the proposed meeting at Princes Island, I desire to state that it is not the intention of the American Government in agreeing to this meeting to barter in matters of principle with the Bolshevist Government. The purpose of the meeting is rather that of investigation in order that this Government may be in a position intelligently to direct its future policy in regard to all factions in Russia.
I appreciate the value of the work which you have done and I hope you may find it possible to continue in this work as heretofore.”
Subsequently I have noted your 480 to Archangel49 and Poole’s report of 844 [reply, 842].50