The wording records the position communicated on 27 January. Compare the 24 January instruction and the later 23 April letter rather than merging the dates or treating them as the same act.
29. As United States has not as yet adhered to decision of Supreme Council recognizing the independence of the Armenian Republic, or that of Georgia and Azerbaijan you are authorized to deny any report that this government has accorded such recognitions. Repeat to Haskell[22] for similar action.
Read this instruction alongside the later January denial and the separate recognition letter of 23 April. An instruction at one stage of a diplomatic exchange should not be presented as the whole recognition process.
As regards Armenia, this Government concurs in the decision taken by the Council to recognize the government of the Armenian state as a de facto government on the condition that this recognition in no way prejudges the question of the eventual frontiers. The Secretary of State will so notify the Armenian representative in Washington.
While this Government appreciates the point of view of the Allied Governments in wishing to render material assistance to Georgia and Azerbaijan, it cannot but feel that the question of the recognition of these governments as de facto governments raises issues of great scope and importance. The possible reaction on the minds of the Russians hitherto friendly to the Allied and Associated governments of such a recognition, which may be advertised by the Moscow government as the beginning of an attempt to dismember Russia, demands the further and very serious consideration of the American Government.
