The Washington herald., 1918-06-27
POLICY
OF j. S. NOW
DECIDED
Commercial and Agricultu-
raj Missions Only Will
Be Sent.
WIDE POWERS TO BE
GRANTED EXECUTIVE
Man to Be Chosen Whose
Reputation Will Inspire
Confidence in Russia.
SUPPLIES AT VLADIVOSTOK
SUBJECT OF INVESTIGATION
American Stores May Prove Good
Working Basis for CONNER
cial Mission.
WIDE POWERS TO BE
GRANTED EXECUTIVE
SUPPLIES AT VLADIVOSTOK
SUBJECT OF INVESTIGATION

Americas policy toward Russia
has been decided on by the Presi-
dent, it was learned last night,
and action will shortly be taken.
The administrators decision
was made at a special Cabinet
meeting hurriedly called Tuesday
night for that purpose, attended
by Secretaries Baker, Redheld,
Wilson, Lansing, Burleson and
Houston.
1t was determined that the ac-
ton the United States should
take would be neither military nor
political, but commercial and
Agricultural c9tyerson by capi-
tai on a friendly but business
basis.
Mission Proposed.
For this task a mission with wide
powers will be sent. with some
prominent man whose reputation in
America will find sympathy and
confidence in Russia.
Final decision has not been made
concerning the leader for the COM
mercial Intervention. The name OF
Supreme Court Justice Brandeis is
being mentioned as a possibility.
Announcement formally of the
governments decision for the reha-
bilitation OF American prestige in
Russia, it was said. would be made
within a few days.
1t Is thought that the President
may take occasion to acquaint
America and her allies with the de-
tails of his scheme in his Fourth of
July address at Mount Vernon.
Although it was learned from an
authoritative source that the ad-
ministration was anxious to empha-
size that there would be no military
enterprise in Americas methods to
help Russia, nor charity. nor politi-
cal aspect. it was admitted frankly
that the mission involved some po-
litical problems, essentially con-
cerning the official destination and
recognition Of such a mission in
Russia. whether 1t would address IT.
self to the Soviets. the Bolsheviki
or any of the other sporadic forms
OF government.
The understanding is that the
final arrangements will be only for
a semi-official mission, backed to
! the limit by the administration
with broad discretionary powers to
insert the wedge of American
friendliness through commercial de-
velopment principally. and widen
the scope of American influence by
every other legitimate means.
Aid Agriculture.
One amplification of the missions
work. it was said, would be to rem
der agricultural aid, not by gift or
loose loans. but by modern business
methods that would bring profit to
the Russians. gratitude to America,
and ultimate rapproachement and
prosperity to both.
A collateral task of this COM
mercial intervention will be to find
out what has become of the store
of American industrial supplies al
Vladivostok, and to distribute
those supplies in its industrial work
The Cabinet meeting that crystal
lized administration opinion in the
conducted so quietly that it was
virtually a secret one, and it was
known yesterday afternoon that the
President had called his advisers
together again yesterday following
the regular Tuesday meeting.
This action Of the administration
as we'll as being a reply to the re-
cent conversations of the United
States and the entente powers con-
| cerning the question Of armed in
tervention, is a direct answer to the
German attempt to conquer Rus
sia by money where she cannot con.
quer her by force. It is to be, fol
the present at least, battle between
American capital and commercial
enterprise and Germany, with Rus.
sia the battle ground. and Russia,
fate in the balance of victory.
Big Supplies Available.
II the great stores of American ma.
| terial are safe at Vladivostok
Americas mission will have a fail
start with available supplies. In that
store Of supplies, stretching for miles
there is estimated to be more thar
| $50, 100000 worth of explosives. loco
| motives and railroad material. con-
struction material of various sorts, ,
variety Of, valuable modern machin
cry. including farming implements.