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  4. Document 23

File No. 861.00/895

The Secretary of State to the British Ambassador ( Spring Rice )1

Memorandum

The Department of State has received from his excellency, the British Ambassador, a memorandum (No. 659) dated December 28, 1917, stating that the Russian Minister at Peking recently went to see the British Minister at that capital and asked his advice as to whether it was desirable that the Bolsheviki leaders and disaffected troops at Harbin should be arrested and deported by Chinese troops. It was stated that the Chinese troops have the situation well in hand at Harbin and that they are in position to effect the arrests and deportations above mentioned, but that the effect on the Bolsheviki government is problematical. The British Government states also that, in its opinion, it would be unwise for the Chinese troops to arrest the Bolsheviki troops and leaders under present circumstances. The views of the American Government on this question are requested.

The American Government believes that it would be unwise for the Chinese Government to take any steps at Harbin which might lead to armed conflict. The American Government recognizes, on the other hand, that China is entirely within her right in employing means to protect her sovereignty and territorial integrity. This Government confidently hopes, however, that the Chinese Government will recognize that the conditions which now prevail in Russia may give rise to local disturbances in parts of Manchuria where large numbers of Russians reside and that the wisest course to pursue is to be lenient in dealing with situations such as have arisen at Harbin. The Department of State, therefore, trusts that the Chinese Government will not find it necessary to use force of arms in restoring order at Harbin and that circumstances will soon so adjust themselves as to permit of an orderly and proper administration of affairs at that place.

[Page 16]

The American Minister at Peking is being instructed in the sense above mentioned.

Washington , December 29, 1917 .
  1. Substance transmitted to the Minister in China by unnumbered telegram, Dec. 29, 2 p.m., concluding: “You are instructed to convey discreetly this information to the Chinese Government.”↩