107 years ago today, on August 15, 1918 (July 9, 1918 in the lunar calendar), the United States broke off diplomatic relations with Soviet Russia. 7000 U.S. Marines landed in Vladivostok to assist the White Army. On August 15, the U.S. ambassador withdrew from Moscow a few days after President Woodrow Wilson decided to join forces with France, Britain and Japan to send troops to Russia. He decided to leave Russia after the Soviet government arrested the British and French ambassadors. The Allies 'intervention in Russia began in the spring of 1918. British troops landed in northern Russia, and the Japanese entered the Far East to protect military supplies from German sabotage. Military goals quickly turned into political goals, and foreign troops began to assist the anti-Bolshevik White Army. The Soviet government believed that the Allies had not only political but also territorial ambitions for the outcome of the Civil War, especially since Japan had long been interested in Siberia. The United States was reluctant to send troops because Wilson feared that such a move would prompt the Russians to ally with Germany, but under pressure from the Allies, Wilson changed his mind and announced on August 3 that the United States would send a small force to Vladivostok. Wilson said the United States would also assist Czech troops that were originally under the Tsar and were currently fighting the German army.