The letter distinguishes recognition of a government from determination of frontiers. Both sentences are necessary to understand its stated scope; this archive does not infer a present-day boundary decision from it.
Sir: Referring to communications heretofore received from you on the subject of the proposed recognition of your Government by the Government of the United States, I am pleased to inform you, and through you, your Government, that, by direction of the President, the Government of the United States recognizes, as of this date, the de facto Government of the Armenian Republic.
This action is taken, however, with the understanding that this recognition in no way predetermines the territorial frontiers, which, it is understood, are matters for later delimitation.
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.
