The response of the official Washington to the development of political situation in Russia at the end of 1917- in early 1918

The present study considers the attitude of the US government to the development of the political crisis in Russia in November 1917 - March 1918. The author examines the main factors that influenced the position of the official Washington in relation to the opposing parties to the conflict during this period: the beginning of separate negotiations between the Soviet government and Germany, the lack of unity in the anti-Bolshevist camp, the desire of the allies to use the situation in Russia in order to realize their own interests. Particular attention is paid to the White House’s striving to preserve a single central government in Russia during World War I and the desire of American leadership to distance itself from direct intervention in the conflict and thus maintain the possibility to interact with all opposing sides. The study evaluates the role of this stage in the evolution of the US government's views on the “Russian question” and its impact on the implementation of the American program on a post-war peaceful settlement.