The President's Note to Russia

What it is

This is the front page of the New York Tribune from 10 June 1917, publishing the text of a note written by President Woodrow Wilson and submitted to Russia's provisional government. The note, made public on 9 June 1917, explained America's aims in the First World War and was printed in newspapers across the country.

Why it matters

The document shows Wilson using diplomatic correspondence and the press together to communicate directly with the public and with foreign governments during wartime. It reflects the United States' efforts to shape opinion abroad, particularly in revolutionary Russia, as the war continued.

Look closer

• Why might Wilson have chosen to make a diplomatic note public through newspapers rather than keeping it private?
• What does the headline and layout suggest about how important this message was considered at the time?
• What can newspaper coverage like this tell historians that the original diplomatic document alone might not?