861a.01/45

The Minister in China (Crane) to the Secretary of State

No. 975

Sir: With reference to the Legation’s telegram No. 131, of March 28th, 5 p.m.,41 I have the honor to transmit herewith a translation copy of a communication dated March 26th, 1921, from Ignatius L. Yourin, who styles himself the President of the Mission of the Far Eastern Republic to China. The original signed copy of the note was in the Russian language and was accompanied by an unsigned English translation of which the enclosed is a copy.

I have [etc.]

(For the Minister)
A. B. Ruddock
[Enclosure—Translation]

Mr. Ignatius L. Yourin to the American Minister (Crane)

Monsieur le Ministre, At the request of the Government and the people of the Far Eastern Republic I have the honour to communicate to you their sympathy and friendly feelings which I beg you to transmit to the Government and the people of the United States.

The Far Eastern Republic being against an armed intervention and interference with its domestic affairs, is trying to come to an [Page 733] understanding and enter into normal economic relations with her neighbours. The Russian people of the Far East are firmly convinced that all the recent misunderstandings could be regarded as a matter of the past and be forgotten, and that from now on they might not only live in peace with the American people, but also obtain their friendly help in the building of a new democratic State.

The Constituent Assembly elected by universal suffrage and now holding its sessions, has granted to the people all civil rights, has proclaimed the inviolability of private property and has introduced in the province of economic policy freedom of trade and the porte ouverte principle. The enormous natural resources of the Far East, the large stores of coal and petroleum in Kamchatka and Saghalien, the gold ores in the Amur region and the rare Wolfram ores in Transbaikalia, the immense wealth of fish, furs and timber—all these are open to private capital, and the Government of the new Republic is trying to create conditions favourable for the exploitation of these resources and for the application of foreign capital in the Far East.

The Government of the Far Eastern Republic has expressed its readiness to grant economic concessions to foreign capitalists for the exploitation of the natural resources, for the extension of railway and telegraph lines, and for the development of industry. The Constituent Assembly which represents all the classes of the population, has very emphatically pointed out the necessity of building up an independent government upon the above principles, and looks forward to the cooperation of the United States of America.

The very fact that even now many large American industrial organizations are successfully carrying on negotiations for the exploitation of the petroleum resources, as well as for securing concessions, shows how important it is for the interests of the two countries to come into a closer contact. A firm ground for the realization of the proposed work and assurance for the future can only be obtained by having Government guarantees, which would be the result of a mutual understanding reached between the Governments of the two countries.

The Far Eastern Republic has for the short period of her existence proved her vitality and has always shown resistance to all those who have tried to force their will upon her. The young Republic hopes to meet with the support of the truly democratic countries and considers as a matter of prime importance a close relationship between the Far Eastern Republic and America, because only through such a relationship can the mutual position be defined in the face of any possible conflicts which may take place in the Far East.

As the Far Eastern Republic owing to her isolation was unable to bring to light her aims and purposes, it now seems most expedient [Page 734] that an end should be put to such isolation, and that the United States Government should be reliably informed of the newly organized State from Government sources. For this purpose the Government of the Far Eastern Republic considers it necessary to exchange representatives with the United States of America.

The Government of the Far Eastern Republic conceives the aim of her Mission to America that of clarifying the matters of political and governmental relationship and also regards the problem of the Mission that of entering into commercial agreements, achieving economic contact between the Far Eastern Republic and the United States, inviting foreign capital for the development of industry, signing contracts for concessions, realizing the possibilities of large trade exchange, obtaining information with regard to the possible application of American capital to the exploitation of the natural resources of the Far Eastern Republic, investigating the principal markets for the purpose of establishing commercial relations, and finally that of creating in conjunction with the Government of the United States general conditions for rapprochement based on the mutual understanding and confidence of the two Republics.

I have the honour to request Your Excellency to bring this communication to the attention of your Government, and to inform them that an American representative duly accredited to the Government of the Far Eastern Republic will be welcomed in Chita, and to ask the American Government whether it will agree to receive our Mission in Washington.

May I express the hope, Monsieur le Ministre, that in view of the importance of all the matters referred to above, you will exert all possible efforts for their early solution, and that you will consent to inform me of the reply of the Department of State as soon as you have received it.

I avail myself [etc.]

[
Ignatius L. Yourin

The President of the Mission of the Far Eastern Republic to China]
  1. Not printed.