Paris Peace Conf. 185.161/5: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Commission to Negotiate Peace

86. For the Secretary of State. Your 24, December 18. Please tell the President that Gompers is disposed to call a labor conference [Page 540] to be held in Paris and put the burden on the foreign Governments of refusing to let it take place. I gave him the President’s message and suggested to him that it would be better to wait and try to arrange matter with the foreign governments as they might now see the advisability of holding this conference in Paris.

It seems to me that it would be very dangerous to hold conference in neutral country as there would be a chance of its being captured by the extremists and Bolsheviks. Please let me know if any progress is being made in these negotiations so I can keep Gompers quiet.

As soon as he issues call for a conference he and his associates will go to Paris. Am forwarding for him today a message to the President.

Polk