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TELEGRAM
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The White House, Washington.
16 WU. RA. 72-Blue 7:11
Chicago, Ilinois, June 17, 1918.
THE PRESIDENT.
We had mass meeting of about three thousand Ukrainian workers and peasants assembled at Ukrainian Territory River View Park June 15, respectfully request you to recognize the goverment of the Russian Soviets Republic. We join in the protest of the Russian Workers and peasants against the invasion by Japan in Siberia as we believe such an invasion would be as disastrous to Russia as the German invasion Ukrainia. # M. S. Tachniak, Chairman, 1588 W. Chicago.
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WAR DEPARTMENT. WASHINGTON.
June 18, 1918.
Confidential
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My dear Mr. President:
I return herewith the letter of Mr. Yangoo.
Surely the suggestion is conceived in a handsome and helpful spirit, and yet I doubt very much whether a group of philippine delegates would be able to sufficiently comprehend the perplexities and intricate cross-currents of feeling in Russia to be very helpful. Of course, no Philippines speak Russian, and the delegates would, therefore, be obliged to speak through interpreters; and in so vast a country, at present divided up into so many localities with local differences both of race and party, I confess I do not see how they could be very weighty.
If I had my own way about Russia and had the power to have my own way, I would like to take everybody out of Russia except the Russians, including diplomatic representatives, military representatives, political agents, propagandists and casual visitors, and let the Russians settle down and settle their own affairs. This, of course, is impossible not only to me but to anybody, and so those of us who do wish the Russian people well can only think how we can help them best. as I see it that is by exposing the falsity and treachery of German
The President, The White House.
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propaganda in that country, and rendering them such military assistance as may be possible. The latter is not a promising prospect, and the former is filled with difficulty, and it seems to me can only be accomplished by men who not only represent our feeling and point of view but are themselves interested in Russia and the Russian people; and such representatives would have to be subtle in their comprehension, and generous and tolerant in their sympathies.
On the whole, I would be inclined to advise Mr. Yangco that the situation in Russia is at present too complicated to justify hope from the very generous and patriotic suggestion which he makes.
Respectfully yours, [unreadable signature?]
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