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THE SECRETARY OF STATE
WASHINGTON

April 12, 1917.

My dear Mr. President:

Complying with your request of todays date, commu-
nicated by Mr. Tumulty, I have considered the two cable-
grams which you submitted to me.

I think the message from Minister Miliukov might
very properly be given to the press, but I suggest that
in the third line, instead of "secular oppression" the
words "the oppression of centuries" might be substituted
as more in accordance with the intended meaning.

As to the cablegram from King Albert, of which I
send you a translation, I am inclined to think that its
publication would not do any particular good. It seems
to proceed on the assumption that Belgium and the United
States have become involved in the war under similar con-
ditions, and I think the intimation that we did not follow
Belgium's course for thirty-two months is not a happy one.

Faithfully yours,

Robert Lansing

Enclosures:
The President,
The White House.

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