Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, The Paris Peace Conference, 1919, Volume XI

Edward M. House Papers: Telegram

Colonel E. M. House to President Wilson

[Paris,] February 24, 1919.

4. You have no doubt received the text of the separate resolutions adopted today regarding the preparation of preliminary peace terms with Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria and Turkey.²³

1. General Bliss is working with the military authorities and their report will be cabled when the same has been prepared.

2. Our territorial experts are in substantial agreement with the British and the French respecting boundaries of Germany. Tardieu, who, since attack on Clemenceau, has become more prominent, said to me yesterday that France would be willing to have the Rhinish Republic set up only for a limited period of years, at the end of which the population would be permitted to decide for themselves what their future should be. He said that in this way a breathing space would be given us all and France would secure protection until she recovered from the present war. The principle of self-determination would be in this way safeguarded.

3. It now seems possible that we shall arrive at a solution of the reparation matter which we can accept without abandoning the principle accepted by Germany and the Allies at the time of the Armistice. In the event however that this principle is seriously threatened with repudiation by the Allies it may be wise for us to intimate that as we do not wish to impair in any respect the agreement between the Associated Governments and Germany at the time of the Armistice we would prefer to withdraw from any participation in any recovery from Germany except to the extent of our own claims for reparation which we can satisfy out of the funds in the hands of the Alien Property Custodian. If this intimation is given it may be that the Allies will reconsider their position.

4. The statement of the economic conditions to be accorded Germany will necessarily have to be made in general terms.

5. At the present time the plan we are pursuing is as follows: the giving of priority to the work of committees involving matters essential in the preparation of a peace treaty with Germany. Reports from these committees should be available by March 8th and should upon your arrival be in shape so that you can consider them without delay. After you have approved them they should be submitted to a Plenary Session of the Conference and an agreement of all of the powers reached respecting them. If this procedure is followed it ought to be possible to summon the Peace Conference for a date not later than the first week of April.

6. It is probable that French Government will insist that you be their guest. I will cable you definitely about this and the question of servants tomorrow.

House

23. See appendices to BC–38, vol. iv, pp. 108–111.