Thomas G. Masaryk to Robert Lansing
Title
Thomas G. Masaryk to Robert Lansing
Creator
Masaryk, T. G. (Tomas Garrigue), 1850-1937
Identifier
WWP25203
Date
1918 September 23
Description
Czechoslovaks need American help in Russia.
Source
Library of Congress, Woodrow Wilson Papers
Publisher
Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum
Subject
World War, 1914-1918--Russia
Czechoslovakia
Contributor
Danna Faulds
Relation
WWP25202
Language
English
Provenance
Document scan was taken from Library of Congress microfilm reel of the Wilson Papers. WWPL volunteers transcribed the text.
Text
Hon. Robert Lansing,
Secretary of State,
Washington, D. C.
Mr. Secretary,
I submit the enclosed cable, received today, to your kind attention.
The situation in Russia changes almost daily: now we have to face the fact of open hostility of the Bolsheviks to the Allies, and as it seems, mostly to the Americans. Their wrath against the Americans would indicate that the people favor the latter, and that the Bolsheviks are afraid of the American influence.
The other fact is that the Germans now openly side with the Bolsheviks and even the Kaiser speaks in favor of them.
Under these circumstances my suggestion to assist our Western Army by a larger contingent, as expressed in both of my Memoranda (of July 20 and August 28) receives added weight; only by these means the part of Russia leading up to Archangelsk can be held, and Siberia saved from the Germans. I fear the retirement of our army could prove disastrous to the Allied nationals living in Russia.
This plan of course does not in any way imply the restoration of the Russian front; in this respect I refer to the enclosed minutes summarizing our agreement with General Janin, reached before I had the honor of discussing the question with you.
At this occasion I also venture to suggest that the Government of the United States could make the Germans and directly the German Emperor responsible for the Bolshevik outrages on their and Allied nationals; such a declaration would be in accordance with the Allies’ Archangelsk proclamation.
Yours very sincerely,
TG Masaryk
Powhatan Hotel
Enclosures.
Secretary of State,
Washington, D. C.
Mr. Secretary,
I submit the enclosed cable, received today, to your kind attention.
The situation in Russia changes almost daily: now we have to face the fact of open hostility of the Bolsheviks to the Allies, and as it seems, mostly to the Americans. Their wrath against the Americans would indicate that the people favor the latter, and that the Bolsheviks are afraid of the American influence.
The other fact is that the Germans now openly side with the Bolsheviks and even the Kaiser speaks in favor of them.
Under these circumstances my suggestion to assist our Western Army by a larger contingent, as expressed in both of my Memoranda (of July 20 and August 28) receives added weight; only by these means the part of Russia leading up to Archangelsk can be held, and Siberia saved from the Germans. I fear the retirement of our army could prove disastrous to the Allied nationals living in Russia.
This plan of course does not in any way imply the restoration of the Russian front; in this respect I refer to the enclosed minutes summarizing our agreement with General Janin, reached before I had the honor of discussing the question with you.
At this occasion I also venture to suggest that the Government of the United States could make the Germans and directly the German Emperor responsible for the Bolshevik outrages on their and Allied nationals; such a declaration would be in accordance with the Allies’ Archangelsk proclamation.
Yours very sincerely,
TG Masaryk
Powhatan Hotel
Enclosures.
Original Format
Letter
To
Lansing, Robert, 1864-1928
Files
Collection
Citation
Masaryk, T. G. (Tomas Garrigue), 1850-1937, “Thomas G. Masaryk to Robert Lansing,” 1918 September 23, WWP25203, World War I Letters, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.