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The Assistant Secretary of State (Dearing) to the Secretary of State
The Secretary: The Russian Ambassador called yesterday and discussed the proposed Genoa Conference. The following is a summary of his remarks:
The invitation to the Bolshevik Government to attend the Genoa Conference is in contradiction to the principle of moral trusteeship for Russia which would protect the territorial and economic integrity of Russia. This integrity is now threatened. There will be discussions with Lenin, or his representatives, and settlements will be made permitting Germany to exploit Russia for indemnity payment to France, and Russian integrity will thereby be imperilled.
The Japanese interest is especially to be noted. Siberia was to have been discussed at Washington. Why then should Japan be in such haste to accept the Genoa invitation on the ground that a Siberian settlement is possible? The answer is that Japan does not desire discussion on the American basis but on some other basis detrimental to Russia.
The newspapers have said that the conditions embodied in the Cannes resolutions are substantially the same as the American principles enunciated in the statement of March 25th last.3 Upon comparison they appear, in fact, to be quite different. The Cannes conditions propose that Russia shall participate once more in European economic life and that she shall pay her debts. Production is a necessary precedent to any such consummation, and production depends upon the principles stated in the March 25th declaration. The Cannes resolutions are mere camouflage.
The Ambassador fears that Lenin may give wholesale concessions as has been done in China. A succeeding government would naturally [Page 387] oppose these concessions. It will, therefore, be in the interest of the Powers benefiting from the concessions to keep the Bolshevik Government in power.
In their present “compromise with capitalism” the Bolsheviks are ceding only to expediency. Their minds have not changed. Lenin will derive political strength from attendance at the Genoa Conference and the pressure which is forcing his government into the compromise with capitalism will be relieved.
The United States has gained in great prestige in Russia, The Ambassador learns this from personal contact with Russians and from letters he receives. The present relief measures have helped a great deal. It is important to uphold this prestige, gratitude and esteem. Certain European Governments desire to undo what has been accomplished by the United States. They are agitated by the position which the United States has attained. They feel that if the United States can be brought to their basis at Genoa they can overthrow this prestige.
The Ambassador hopes that the United States will not abandon its policy and its position.