Robert Lansing to Woodrow Wilson
Title
Robert Lansing to Woodrow Wilson
Creator
Lansing, Robert, 1864-1928
Identifier
WWP25195
Date
1918 September 21
Description
The Secretary of State tells President Wilson about his conversation with Masaryk.
Source
Library of Congress, Woodrow Wilson Papers
Publisher
Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum
Subject
World War, 1914-1918--Russia
Masaryk, T. G. (Tomáš Garrigue), 1850-1937
Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924--Correspondence
Contributor
Morgan Willer
Relation
WWP25196
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 have just had, this morning, a conversation with Professor Masaryk in regard to the Czecho-Slovak situation. He was very emphatic in agreeing with us that the restoration of an Eastern Front was absolutely out of the question. He also agreed that it was the wisest course for the Czecho-Slovaks on the Volga and in Eastern Russia to retire through Siberia as soon as that could be done with safety. He said, however, that it would be most dangerous for the forces at certain points near the Urals to withdraw in their defenseless condition; that the safety of their retirement depended upon getting them arms and ammunition. His advices were that there were that there were at least fifty thousand Czecho-Slovaks without arms dependent entirely for their protection upon the small forces which were armed.
The President.
In every way he was most thoroughly in accord with our policy and told me that he would take up the matter of supplies immediately with Mr. McCormick, Mr. Baruch and Mr. Hurley.
Incidentally, in talking with him, he told me that he had information that the Germans had in Germany under training about 500,000 additional troops which would be used when they considered the time favorable.
Faithfully yours,
Robert Lansing
I have just had, this morning, a conversation with Professor Masaryk in regard to the Czecho-Slovak situation. He was very emphatic in agreeing with us that the restoration of an Eastern Front was absolutely out of the question. He also agreed that it was the wisest course for the Czecho-Slovaks on the Volga and in Eastern Russia to retire through Siberia as soon as that could be done with safety. He said, however, that it would be most dangerous for the forces at certain points near the Urals to withdraw in their defenseless condition; that the safety of their retirement depended upon getting them arms and ammunition. His advices were that there were that there were at least fifty thousand Czecho-Slovaks without arms dependent entirely for their protection upon the small forces which were armed.
The President.
In every way he was most thoroughly in accord with our policy and told me that he would take up the matter of supplies immediately with Mr. McCormick, Mr. Baruch and Mr. Hurley.
Incidentally, in talking with him, he told me that he had information that the Germans had in Germany under training about 500,000 additional troops which would be used when they considered the time favorable.
Faithfully yours,
Robert Lansing
Original Format
Letter
To
Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924
Files
Collection
Citation
Lansing, Robert, 1864-1928, “Robert Lansing to Woodrow Wilson,” 1918 September 21, WWP25195, World War I Letters, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.