Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-08-11
NOTE FROM COLBY TO HALYIS
ENVOY HERE ANSWERS QUERY
AS TO u s. STAND ON POLAND

| United States feels that friendship
| and honor require that Russia's in
| terests must be generally protected,
| and that. as far as possible, all de-
cisions of vital Importance to it, and
| especially those concerning its SOW
| ereignty over the territory of the
| former Russian empire, be held in
allegiance. BY this feeling of friend
| ship and honorable obligation to the
great nation whose brave and heroic
self-sacritice contributed so much TO
| the successful termination of the
war the government of the United
States was guided in it's reply to the
Lithuanian national council, on Octo-
| Der Is. 1919 and in it's persistent
refusal to recognize the Baltic states
as separate nations independent OF
Russia. The same spirit was mani
tested in the note of this govern
| ment of March "a. 1920, in which
it was stated, with reference to Ger
tain proposed settlements in the near
east, that NO final decision should
or can be made without the consent
of Russia
I'm line with these important decla-
rations of policy, the United States
withheld it's approval from the de-
cision of the supreme council at Paris
recognizing the Independence of the
so-called republics of Georgia ana
AZerbaijan, and so instructed it's rep
Admiral Newton A. McCully. Finally.
while gladly giving recognition to the
independence of Armenia, the govern
ment of the United States has taken
the position that the final determine
ton of it's boundaries must not be
made without Russa's cooperation
and agreement. Not only is Russia
concerned, because considerable part
of the territory of the new state OF
Armenia. when it shall be defined,
formerly belonged to the Russian en-
pire; equally important is the fact
that Armenian must have the Sood
will and the protective friendship OF
Russia if it is to remain Independent
and free.
Control by Brutal Force.
these illustrations show with what
consistency the government of the
United States has been guided in its
foreign policy by a loyal friendship
for Russia. We are unwilling that
while it is helpless in the grip of a
non-representative government whose
only sanction is brutal force, Russia
shall be weakened still further by a
policy of ACKNOWLEDGMENT conceived
In other than Russian interests.
with the desire of the allied pow
ers to bring about a peaceful solu-
ton of the existing difficulties in
Europe. this government is. of course,
in hearty accord. and will support
any justifiable steps to that end 1t
is unable to perceive. however. that
recognition of the soviet regime
would promote, much less accom-
plish, this object. and it is therefore
averse to any dealings with the So
Wet regime beyond the most narrow
boundaries to which a discussion Of
an armistice can be confined.
That the present rulers of Russia
NV hn
sent of any considerable proportion
of the Russian people is an incon-
testable fact. Although nearly two
and half years have passed since
they seized the machinery of gov
eminent, promising to protect the
conspiracies. they have not yet
permitted anything in the nature
of a popular election. At the mo-
ment when the work of creating a
popular representative government
based upon universal suffrage was
nearing completion the bolsheviki
although. in number. an inconsidera-
BILE minority of the people, by force
and cunning seized the powers and
| machinery of government and have
continued to use them with savage
oppression to maintain themselves in
power.
Restoration Of Russia.
n Without any desire 10 interfere In
the internal affairs of the Russian
people, or to suggest what kind of
government they should have the
government of the United States does
express the hope that they will soon
find way to set up a government
representing their free will and pur-
pose. When that time comes the
United States will consider the meas
ures of practical assistance which
can be taken to promote the restora-
ton of Russia, provided Russia has
not taken itself wholly out of the
pale Of the friendly interest of other
nations by the pillage and oppression
of the Poles.
at is not possible for the government
present rulers of Russia as a govern
rnent with which the relations common
to friendly governments can be main
do with any particular political or social
themselves may see fit to embrace 1t
| facts. These facts, which none dis
| of the United States, against it's will,
based upon the negation of every prin-
ciple of honor and good faith, and every
usage and convention underlying the
whole structure of international law;
the negation, in short, of every prin-
ciple upon which it is possible to base
harmonious and trustful relations,
whether of nations or of individuals
The responsible leaders of the regime
have freouenfIv and oDenlv hoa Sted tba T