Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, 1919, Russia

861.00/3613: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Commission to Negotiate Peace

Washington, January 16, 1919, 7 p.m.

273. For the Secretary of State:

Referring my 130, January 7, 5 PM., the Secretary of War comments as follows upon arrangements reported to have been reached for sphere of military authority in Siberia between General Janin and General Knox:

“With reference to your letter of January 8th,¹⁴ transmitting a note from the French Embassy, dated December 19, 1918, I would advise you that the War Department intends to adhere rigidly to the policy of the President as laid down in his memorandum upon the use of our troops in Siberia,¹⁵ and does not approve organizing mixed detachments formed of American and Japanese contingents in equal numbers distributed at main points on the railroad lines. In connection with the matter of the command of Allied troops in Siberia, it is, of course, known to you that the American forces are not placed under the command of General Knox or General Janin. The American expedition is a joint expedition with the Japanese force with definite purposes laid down by the President, and no other.”

Department has received a similar memorandum from the British Embassy¹⁶ in which it is stated that General Knox will be associated with General Janin as director of communications, and that arrangements agreeable to both parties have already been come to between General Janin and Admiral Kolchak in regard to this agreement.

Polk

14. Not printed.
15. Foreign Relations, 1918, Russia, vol. ii, pp. 287–290.
16. Supra.