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File No. 661.939/10

The Minister in China (Reinsch) to the Secretary of State

[Telegram]

PEKING, May 31, 1918, 6 p. m.

Your May 28, 3 p. m.

[Received May 31, 4.11 p. m.]

French Minister still objects to ship

ment. Others have no objection. I beg to suggest further conversations with Paris.

REINSCH

File No. 661.939/8

The Acting Secretary of State to the Minister in China (Reinsch)

[Telegram]

WASHINGTON, June 10, 1918, 2 p. m.

Your May 31, 6 p. m. Telegram from Ambassador Sharp dated May 27 states that French Government still believes embargo should be maintained, though its rigors may be attenuated by granting export authorizations in cases where exportations can be watched and guaranteed. French Government believes that this plan offers best solution.

Embassy at London telegraphed on May 28 that British Government concurs in proposal to raise embargo on supplies which are not in danger of reaching the enemy. British Government has communicated these views to French Government.

American Government has been opposed from the beginning to the embargo and it does not believe that specific shipments of American-owned goods should be prevented from going forward.

POLK

File No. 661.939/15

The Consul at Harbin (Moser) to the Secretary of State

[Telegram]

HARBIN, June 20, 1918, 3 p. m.
[Received June 20, 12.02 p. m.]

Commissioner Chinese Customs informed consular body to-day of complete removal of embargo against export to Russians' territory by Chinese Government. Please inform War Trade Board that as greatest bulk of imports to Harbin are intended for sale to buyers in Russia and there is now no means for controlling transactions of any of the merchant firms at Harbin, the consulatecan not accept any responsibility for the destination of any goods shipped to Harbin or offer any assurance that they may not fall into the hands of the enemy.

An identical telegram, in which I could not join, was sent to-day by the Japanese, British, and French consular representatives to their respective Ministers at Peking

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MOSER

File No. 661.939/16

The Minister in China (Reinsch) to the Secretary of State

[Telegram]

PEKING, June 24, 1918, 4 p. m.
[Received June 24, 11.22 a. m.]

The Chinese Government has canceled embargo on exports to Siberia.

File No. 661.939/18

REINSCH

The Chargé in China (MacMurray) to the Secretary of State

[Telegram]

PEKING, July 2, 1918, noon.
[Received 7.55 p. m.]
Under instructions of his

Legation's telegram June 24, 4 p. m. Government French Minister is urging upon the Chinese Government resumption of embargo on exports to Siberia and informs me that the Chinese Government is prepared to accede if such action is deemed necessary as a war measure by the Allies. The British and Japanese legations are disposed to support French representations. French Minister expresses the hope in view of new situation created by the action of the Czecho-Slovak troops at Vladivostok and west of Irkutsk our Government may consider it advisable to modify the policy indicated in your telegram of June 10, 2 p. m. I beg to request early instructions as to your views as British Minister, as dean of the Allied representatives, is endeavoring to delay further action by his colleagues until I am in position to state whether or not recent developments have induced any alteration in your attitude towards this question.

MACMURRAY

File No. 661.939/18

The Secretary of State to the Chargé in China (MacMurray)

[Telegram]

WASHINGTON, July 5, 1918, 5 p. m. Your July 2, noon. The American Government sees no reason to modify its attitude towards embargo. Destination of American ex

ports is controlled by strict system of export licenses. Department suggests Chinese Government might find it advisable to adopt similar system. Czecho-Slovak control of railway would appear to make embargo less necessary than ever.

LANSING

File No. 661.939/21

The Chargé in China (MacMurray) to the Secretary of State

[Telegram]

PEKING, August 17, 1918, 8 p. m.
[Received August 17, 2.38 p. m.]

Your telegram of July 5, 5 p. m. In view of the complete control of Blagoveshchensk and Khabarovsk by Bolshevik and enemy forces, the British Government has instructed Legation to urge upon the Chinese Government the necessity of prohibiting the passage of supplies thither by Sungari River. This appears to be a particular measure of military necessity, as distinguished from general embargo, and I beg to request authorization to support British representatives if necessary.

MACMURRAY

File No. 661.939/21

The Secretary of State to the Chargé in China (MacMurray)

[Telegram]

WASHINGTON, August 21, 1918, 6 p. m. Your August 17, 8 p. m. You are authorized as you request to support the British Legation in urging the Chinese Government to prohibit passage of supplies to enemy forces.

LANSING

File No. 661.939/22

The Chargé in China (MacMurray) to the Secretary of State

[Telegram]

PEKING, August 31, 1918, 8 p. m.
[Received 10.25 p. m.]

My telegram August 19 [17?], 8 p. m., and your August 21, 6 p. m. The Chinese Government has suspended trade by the Sungari River.

MACMURRAY

CHAPTER IV

ASSISTANCE IN RAILWAY TRANSPORTATION

Arrangements for an American Commission under John F. Stevens to Investigate and Advise Regarding Operation of the Trans-Siberian Railway and to Control the Forwarding of American Supplies through Vladivostok, April 1917-Measures to Expedite the Delivery of Railway Material Ordered in the United States-Arrival of the Commission at Petrograd, June 12, 1917; Arrangements for Its Work-Request for a Force of American Operators and Shopmen as Instructors-Improvements Effected by the Commission-Designation of Stevens as Adviser for the Entire Russian Railway System

File No. 861.77/55

The Secretary of War (Baker) to the Secretary of State

WASHINGTON, March 31, 1917.

[Received April 2.]

MY DEAR MR. SECRETARY: This morning at a meeting of the Council of National Defense, Mr. Stanley Washburn made an address in which he urged the importance of the Trans-Siberian Railroad to Russia and likewise urged the importance of Russia in the European war. He suggested that the sending of some expert railroad operators from America to Russia would be an effective aid to that country's transportation system and would be accepted by the Government and people of Russia as an evidence of our sympathetic desire to cooperate with them.

Mr. Daniel Willard, President of the Advisory Commission,1 warmly supported the idea, and offered to undertake to send to Russia a small group of experienced and competent railroad men to go over this railroad, analyze its needs, and return to this country with a report which would show just what, in material and men, is needed to increase the efficiency of its operation.

I suggested that before such a thing were done, the President's judgment should be taken; and I therefore conferred with the President, and he asks me to request you to send to the American Ambassador at Petrograd the following despatch.

[Here follows the text of telegram No. 1288 of April 2, 1917, from the Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Russia, post, page 184.} I have [etc.] NEWTON D. BAKER

1
'Of the Council of National Defense.

183

File No. 861.77/45

The Ambassador in Great Britain (Page) to the Secretary of State

[Telegram]

LONDON, March 31, 1917, 2 p. m.
[Received March 31, 2 p. m.]

5923. I learn from a private and apparently trustworthy source that one of the critical problems of the new Russian Government is the proper management of the Trans-Siberian Railway. It has been suggested to me by a man who knows Russia that American management would greatly help the Russian military situation and prove to be also an invaluable key after the war to industrial development. This seems so important a suggestion looking towards future American-Russian trade that I send it for your investigation if you think wise. I have no first-hand facts.

PAGE

File No. 861.77/45a

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Russia (Francis)

[Telegram]

WASHINGTON, April 2, 1917, 3 p. m. 1288. Would the Russian Government welcome an inspection of the Trans-Siberian Railroad by six American railway experts, with a view to making a report for the use of the Russian Government as to how the efficiency of the railroad can be increased, with possible suggestions as to equipment and expert assistance from America if agreeable to the Russian Government?

File No. 861.77/46

LANSING

The Ambassador in Russia (Francis) to the Secretary of State

[Telegram]

PETROGRAD, April 9, 1917, 8 p. m.
[Received April 10, 3.25 p. m.]

1167. Minister for Foreign Affairs informs me by telephone that Government authorizes him to say that commission mentioned in your No. 1288 will be welcomed by Russia stating that it will be pleased to learn how Siberian Railway can be made more efficient. Written reply will be received to-morrow when if differs herefrom shall cable again. Am sending this promptly because Russia sorely needs improved transportation and no time should be lost in securing FRANCIS

same.

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