Robert Lansing to Woodrow Wilson
Title
Robert Lansing to Woodrow Wilson
Creator
Lansing, Robert, 1864-1928
Identifier
WWP25386
Date
1918 November 2
Description
Secretary of State writes to President Wilson that their idea of letting Russia help itself might be best.
Source
Library of Congress, Woodrow Wilson Papers
Publisher
Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum
Subject
World War, 1914-1918--United States
World War, 1914-1918--Russia
Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924--Correspondence
Contributor
Danna Faulds
Relation
WWP25387
Language
English
Provenance
Document scan was taken from Library of Congress microfilm reel of the Wilson Papers. WWPL volunteers transcribed the text.
Text
My dear Mr. President:
I am sending you telegram from Mr. Francis, dated October 23, 1918, which seems to offer possibility of carrying out our idea to help the Russians help themselves. The Ambassador recommends that the situation would be much benefitted by an eminent Russian general as Minister of War in the Government at Archangel who would rank all Allied commanders there and suggests the name of General Lechitsky.
I understand that the high command at Archangel was assigned to the British by a decision of the War Council at Versailles; also that the War Department would probably not consent to putting American troops under a Russian unless his military capacity were thoroughly established. These facts offer certain practical difficulties but I would like to know whether you would be inclined to view with favor the proposal to take this matter up in principle for consideration by the War Council. I think the point made by the Ambassador is a sound one.
Faithfully yours,
Robert Lansing.
The President,
The White House.
NE-M.
861.00/3037
I am sending you telegram from Mr. Francis, dated October 23, 1918, which seems to offer possibility of carrying out our idea to help the Russians help themselves. The Ambassador recommends that the situation would be much benefitted by an eminent Russian general as Minister of War in the Government at Archangel who would rank all Allied commanders there and suggests the name of General Lechitsky.
I understand that the high command at Archangel was assigned to the British by a decision of the War Council at Versailles; also that the War Department would probably not consent to putting American troops under a Russian unless his military capacity were thoroughly established. These facts offer certain practical difficulties but I would like to know whether you would be inclined to view with favor the proposal to take this matter up in principle for consideration by the War Council. I think the point made by the Ambassador is a sound one.
Faithfully yours,
Robert Lansing.
The President,
The White House.
NE-M.
861.00/3037
Original Format
Letter
To
Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924
Files
Collection
Citation
Lansing, Robert, 1864-1928, “Robert Lansing to Woodrow Wilson,” 1918 November 2, WWP25386, World War I Letters, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.