John R. Mott to Robert Lansing
Title
John R. Mott to Robert Lansing
Creator
John R. Mott
Identifier
WWP22785
Date
1917 August 22
Source
Library of Congress, Woodrow Wilson Papers, 1786-1957
Relation
WWP21888
Text
Hotel Shoreham
Washington, DC
Mr. Secretary:
Referring to your question as to whether the "Plans for American Cooperation to Preserve and Strengthen the Morale of the Civil Population and the Army of Russia," recommended by our Special Mission, do not appear to be more American than Russian, we would call attention to the fact that the printed memorandum which we prepared for the President was designed primarily to exhibit the American part of the project. With this in mind, the memorandum was entitled "American Cooperation." For the sake of brevity, the description of Russia's part in the undertaking was omitted, although, in all our thinking and constructive suggestions, we have had this constantly in mind. We are agreed as to the first importance of having all that is done, done so far as possible under Russian leadership and supervision. On the Russian side of the shield, the whole activity will be presented as the activity of Russians. The organization will be Russian, the language will be Russian, the teachers and speakers will be almost entirely Russians, the writing will be done by Russians, and the institutions and societies through which American help is rendered are Russian.
Before we left Russia, definite steps had been taken to organize a National Committee or Council, to have entire supervision of the placing and equipping of the proposed buildings, the organising of the activities to be conducted in them, the locating and coaching of the secretaries, including the American workers, and the close supervision of all that is to be done. This Committee was being constituted entirely by important Russian citizens whom we had discovered in the different centers as most intelligent with reference to all the problems involved and as most interested in their solution. They were proceeding carefully in the building up of the Committee. The day before we left Petrograd, they told us they were thinking of inviting Prince Kropotkin to serve as Chairman, as he seemed to be the most popular and influential man for the position, from the point of view of both the soldiers and officers. While the Russians may decide to appoint one or two Americans on their Committee, virtually the entire membership will be Russian. The activities in each of the buildings at the front, in the training-camps, and in the garrison cities will be conducted under the supervision of local committees composed entirely of Russians. The experiments which we tried so successfully and to which reference was made in the memorandum were all conducted on this plan.
So far as the proposed educational campaign among the civil population, as well as among the soldiers, is concerned, out thought from the beginning has been that the five principal agencies mentioned by us would be conducted in the main by Russians. For example, the Bureau of Speakers and Teachers would be guided by Russian committees; all of the hundreds of speakers and teachers would be Russian; the pamphlets, leaflets, and poster advertisements would be prepared by Russian scholars and writers; and such material as might have been produced in America or other countries would be translated and, where necessary, supplemented by this corps of Russian writers. We omitted to state, this connection, that there would be a committee of Russians to help choose as well as edit this material. In connection with the film service, we would utilize the Russian and Russian lecture and education societies as well as the buildings erected for serving the soldiers.The reason why we called particular attention to American films is the fact that the Russians themselves whom we consulted expressed to us the strong desire that large use be made of American films. They deem it very important that we acquaint the Russian civil and military population with American life and that we bring vividly before them America's part in this War and that we seek to assure them that America has identified herself with them in the great struggle. We would suggest that an American manager for this film service is desirable because of the far greater efficiency of the American film services. The proposed news service contemplates news from America and it must be managed at this end by Americans. The publication at the other end would be arranged by Russians. The object here, as in the case of the film service, is to promote among the Russians a right understanding of America and, therefore, a much closer and sympathetic cooperation.
In the budget which we have submitted, there is one item entitled "Helping Certain Russian Agencies such as the Soldiers' Newspaper." Our investigation revealed here and there the existence of certain Russian societies and committees which are in a position to help multiply points of helpful contact with and to give larger access to both the civil and military population. All of these are doing a very restricted work through the lack of funds; so, quite apart from helping them along lines indicated in the other features of the budget, we thought it would be a wise use of money to make grants directly to those agencies for the enlargement of their regular work. There is on society, for example, which organizes the maimed and invalided Russian exchanged prisoners and sends them among the bodies of troops to raise their fighting spirit. We were in a position to observe the helpful effect of its work and believe that it would be wise to give it financial help.
Let us reiterate the point developed in the paragraph at the middle of page five of the memorandum which we left with the President, namely, the paragraph which calls attention to the fact that the Russians heartily welcome American cooperation through such agencies as the Association in its practical ministry among the soldiers. First and last we conferred with scores of the wisest leaders of Russian opinion and action and not one of them exhibited any reservations on this point. They clearly need our help and earnestly desire it.
Since Mr. Root and I saw you this morning, we have been in conference with Mr. Putnam, of the Congressional Library, with reference to the project of the American Library Association to furnish books to the American soldiers in the various cantonments and have been much impressed by the fact that the various activities which are being introduced in the American Army for keeping up the morale of the troops are substantially the same as the Russians desire in this critical moment for their own soldiers.
Could you not kindly arrange for the President for us to see him next Thursday of, failing that, on Wednesday? Mr. Root will gladly return to Clinton, New York, and I will likewise be glad to come out of the Canadian woods for this most important purpose. Mr. Root tells me that it will be impossible for him to come to Washington any time during the period from September 1st to 9th, owing to other engagements. Please send word to Mr. Root at Clinton, Oneida County, New York, and to me at my office, 124 East Twenty-eighth Street, New York City.
With sincere regard,
Faithfully yours,
John R. Mott
The Secretary of State.
Department of State,
Washington, DC
P.S. You will be interested to know that a few days ago I received a cablegram from France indicating that the French leaders desire that America send over immediately five hundred American Association secretaries, to extend the YMCA work throughout the French Army. General Pershing has cabled that this should be done immediately and that it is the greatest single service which America can render just now to the French Army. I have taken luncheon today with one of the leading representatives of France now in Washington and he strongly endorses this appeal. I must speak to the President on this point when we meet. Moreover, since reaching Washington I have received a communication from Italy, indicating that the Italian leaders, including prominent Roman Catholics, in view of what they have seen of the American Association work in France as a means of strengthening the morale and occupying usefully the spare time of the soldiers, desire that we send a number of American secretaries to Italy, in order to introduce in the Italian Army the same helpful methods. Furthermore, I received last week a belated cablegram from an influential Bishop of the Russian Orthodox Church - the Bishop of Tomsk, a garrison city with 50,000 soldiers, where we made one of our experiments with the help of an American secretary taken from the prison camp work, - urging that America spread this agency quickly throughout the Russian Army and that we send American workers for this purpose.
JRM
Washington, DC
Mr. Secretary:
Referring to your question as to whether the "Plans for American Cooperation to Preserve and Strengthen the Morale of the Civil Population and the Army of Russia," recommended by our Special Mission, do not appear to be more American than Russian, we would call attention to the fact that the printed memorandum which we prepared for the President was designed primarily to exhibit the American part of the project. With this in mind, the memorandum was entitled "American Cooperation." For the sake of brevity, the description of Russia's part in the undertaking was omitted, although, in all our thinking and constructive suggestions, we have had this constantly in mind. We are agreed as to the first importance of having all that is done, done so far as possible under Russian leadership and supervision. On the Russian side of the shield, the whole activity will be presented as the activity of Russians. The organization will be Russian, the language will be Russian, the teachers and speakers will be almost entirely Russians, the writing will be done by Russians, and the institutions and societies through which American help is rendered are Russian.
Before we left Russia, definite steps had been taken to organize a National Committee or Council, to have entire supervision of the placing and equipping of the proposed buildings, the organising of the activities to be conducted in them, the locating and coaching of the secretaries, including the American workers, and the close supervision of all that is to be done. This Committee was being constituted entirely by important Russian citizens whom we had discovered in the different centers as most intelligent with reference to all the problems involved and as most interested in their solution. They were proceeding carefully in the building up of the Committee. The day before we left Petrograd, they told us they were thinking of inviting Prince Kropotkin to serve as Chairman, as he seemed to be the most popular and influential man for the position, from the point of view of both the soldiers and officers. While the Russians may decide to appoint one or two Americans on their Committee, virtually the entire membership will be Russian. The activities in each of the buildings at the front, in the training-camps, and in the garrison cities will be conducted under the supervision of local committees composed entirely of Russians. The experiments which we tried so successfully and to which reference was made in the memorandum were all conducted on this plan.
So far as the proposed educational campaign among the civil population, as well as among the soldiers, is concerned, out thought from the beginning has been that the five principal agencies mentioned by us would be conducted in the main by Russians. For example, the Bureau of Speakers and Teachers would be guided by Russian committees; all of the hundreds of speakers and teachers would be Russian; the pamphlets, leaflets, and poster advertisements would be prepared by Russian scholars and writers; and such material as might have been produced in America or other countries would be translated and, where necessary, supplemented by this corps of Russian writers. We omitted to state, this connection, that there would be a committee of Russians to help choose as well as edit this material. In connection with the film service, we would utilize the Russian and Russian lecture and education societies as well as the buildings erected for serving the soldiers.The reason why we called particular attention to American films is the fact that the Russians themselves whom we consulted expressed to us the strong desire that large use be made of American films. They deem it very important that we acquaint the Russian civil and military population with American life and that we bring vividly before them America's part in this War and that we seek to assure them that America has identified herself with them in the great struggle. We would suggest that an American manager for this film service is desirable because of the far greater efficiency of the American film services. The proposed news service contemplates news from America and it must be managed at this end by Americans. The publication at the other end would be arranged by Russians. The object here, as in the case of the film service, is to promote among the Russians a right understanding of America and, therefore, a much closer and sympathetic cooperation.
In the budget which we have submitted, there is one item entitled "Helping Certain Russian Agencies such as the Soldiers' Newspaper." Our investigation revealed here and there the existence of certain Russian societies and committees which are in a position to help multiply points of helpful contact with and to give larger access to both the civil and military population. All of these are doing a very restricted work through the lack of funds; so, quite apart from helping them along lines indicated in the other features of the budget, we thought it would be a wise use of money to make grants directly to those agencies for the enlargement of their regular work. There is on society, for example, which organizes the maimed and invalided Russian exchanged prisoners and sends them among the bodies of troops to raise their fighting spirit. We were in a position to observe the helpful effect of its work and believe that it would be wise to give it financial help.
Let us reiterate the point developed in the paragraph at the middle of page five of the memorandum which we left with the President, namely, the paragraph which calls attention to the fact that the Russians heartily welcome American cooperation through such agencies as the Association in its practical ministry among the soldiers. First and last we conferred with scores of the wisest leaders of Russian opinion and action and not one of them exhibited any reservations on this point. They clearly need our help and earnestly desire it.
Since Mr. Root and I saw you this morning, we have been in conference with Mr. Putnam, of the Congressional Library, with reference to the project of the American Library Association to furnish books to the American soldiers in the various cantonments and have been much impressed by the fact that the various activities which are being introduced in the American Army for keeping up the morale of the troops are substantially the same as the Russians desire in this critical moment for their own soldiers.
Could you not kindly arrange for the President for us to see him next Thursday of, failing that, on Wednesday? Mr. Root will gladly return to Clinton, New York, and I will likewise be glad to come out of the Canadian woods for this most important purpose. Mr. Root tells me that it will be impossible for him to come to Washington any time during the period from September 1st to 9th, owing to other engagements. Please send word to Mr. Root at Clinton, Oneida County, New York, and to me at my office, 124 East Twenty-eighth Street, New York City.
With sincere regard,
Faithfully yours,
John R. Mott
The Secretary of State.
Department of State,
Washington, DC
P.S. You will be interested to know that a few days ago I received a cablegram from France indicating that the French leaders desire that America send over immediately five hundred American Association secretaries, to extend the YMCA work throughout the French Army. General Pershing has cabled that this should be done immediately and that it is the greatest single service which America can render just now to the French Army. I have taken luncheon today with one of the leading representatives of France now in Washington and he strongly endorses this appeal. I must speak to the President on this point when we meet. Moreover, since reaching Washington I have received a communication from Italy, indicating that the Italian leaders, including prominent Roman Catholics, in view of what they have seen of the American Association work in France as a means of strengthening the morale and occupying usefully the spare time of the soldiers, desire that we send a number of American secretaries to Italy, in order to introduce in the Italian Army the same helpful methods. Furthermore, I received last week a belated cablegram from an influential Bishop of the Russian Orthodox Church - the Bishop of Tomsk, a garrison city with 50,000 soldiers, where we made one of our experiments with the help of an American secretary taken from the prison camp work, - urging that America spread this agency quickly throughout the Russian Army and that we send American workers for this purpose.
JRM
To
Lansing, Robert, 1864-1928
Files
Collection
Citation
John R. Mott, “John R. Mott to Robert Lansing,” 1917 August 22, WWP22785, World War I Letters, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.