763.72119/2599: Telegram
The Minister in Belgium ( Whitlock ) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 15—2:22 a.m.]
154. Hymans asks me to express the earnest desire of the Belgian Government to have the Peace Conference held in Brussels. The [Page 124] movement was begun on receipt of a telegram from Francqui5 at Brussels saying that Cardinal Mercier, the National Committee, all magistrates and members of Parliament and prominent men in Belgium unanimously requested it. The King was at first not favorably impressed with the idea saying after so long a strain the social obligations it would entail would be onerous but he yielded to the wishes of the Government. While sharing the forebodings of His Majesty, I transmit the request for your consideration.
- Émile Francqui, head of the Belgian Comité National d’Alimentation et Secours.↩