Woodrow Wilson to Frank L. Polk
Title
Woodrow Wilson to Frank L. Polk
Creator
Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924
Identifier
WWP25088
Date
1918 August 3
Description
President's response to notification of conditions in Siberia.
Source
Library of Congress, Woodrow Wilson Papers
Publisher
Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum
Subject
Baker, Newton Diehl, 1871-1937
Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924--Correspondence
World War, 1914-1918--United States
Contributor
Danna Faulds
Relation
WWI1102
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 Polk:
The circumstances to which our attention is called in the enclosed telegram are indeed most distressing and alarming. I do not know what the Secretary of War’s feeling about it may be, but he said to me the other day that the demand for clothes, both underclothing and outer clothing, for the army is so great and must be supplied on so definite a schedule that he did not think it was possible for us to supply the Czecho-Slovak forces in Siberia from our stocks in this country. It seems to me, moreover, that this is a task which more properly lies with the Red Cross than with the army. I mean that I do not know under what law or appropriation we could render governmental aid.
I am puzzled and distressed and would value your further counsel after you have heard from the Secretary of War.
Cordially and faithfully yours,
[Woodrow Wilson]
Hon. Frank L. Polk,
Acting Secretary of State.
The circumstances to which our attention is called in the enclosed telegram are indeed most distressing and alarming. I do not know what the Secretary of War’s feeling about it may be, but he said to me the other day that the demand for clothes, both underclothing and outer clothing, for the army is so great and must be supplied on so definite a schedule that he did not think it was possible for us to supply the Czecho-Slovak forces in Siberia from our stocks in this country. It seems to me, moreover, that this is a task which more properly lies with the Red Cross than with the army. I mean that I do not know under what law or appropriation we could render governmental aid.
I am puzzled and distressed and would value your further counsel after you have heard from the Secretary of War.
Cordially and faithfully yours,
[Woodrow Wilson]
Hon. Frank L. Polk,
Acting Secretary of State.
Original Format
Letter
To
Polk, Frank L. (Frank Lyon), 1871-1943
Files
Collection
Citation
Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924, “Woodrow Wilson to Frank L. Polk,” 1918 August 3, WWP25088, World War I Letters, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.