Paris Peace Conf. 811.001/359: Telegram
The Commission to Negotiate Peace to the Chargé in Italy (Jay)
115. Your 509, October 2, 10 a.m. Following received by Commission on October 4th regarding President’s condition and is repeated for your information. This, however, is a news summary and therefore is not official.
“All papers carry as leading features today the President’s illness. A consultation of physicians including Doctor Grayson, Rear Admiral Stitt, head of the Naval Hospital, and Dr. Ruffin agreed the President is suffering from nervous exhaustion brought on by the strain of his work at the Peace Conference and his recent tour of this country. Doctor Grayson said ‘The President is a very sick man’. The bulletin issued by Doctor Grayson is as follows ‘At 12:15 p.m., the President’s condition is unchanged’. Previous bulletins last night stated ‘The President is a sick man. His condition is less favorable today and he has remained in bed throughout the day’.”
Confidentially, the Commission’s information is that the President is very ill. For instructions requested by you, Commission suggests that you await a reply from Washington. Fortunately, prior to the President’s illness his emphatic decision conveyed to you regarding Fiume removes all doubt relative to this question.