Robert Lansing to Woodrow Wilson

Replying to your letter of August 7, 1917, enclosing a bill introduced in the House of Representatives by Mr. Rainey, for the drafting of certain aliens, allow me to say in response to your request for my views, that this proposed Act should be considered in connection with the memorandum which I sent you yesterday on the general subject of impressing aliens into the military service of the United States. The discussion in Section E of this memorandum, Subsection (B), would apply to Mr. Rainey's bill, which, I understand, supplements the existing Draft Act. In addition, I may add that the words of the bill, "Exclusive of alien residents who are not by law permitted to become citizens of the United States," would be, I believe, offensive to Japan, and perhaps to China. The Department has an intimation to that effect from the Japanese Embassy.

I enclose a copy of a memorandum which has been left with me by the Provost Marshal General's office, indicating the urgency of this matter. To this memorandum I have attached copies of Mr. Chamberlain's Senate Resolution 84 referred to, and a copy of Mr. McCumber's resolution, which was passed on calendar day of August 1, 1917.