Paris Peace Conf. 184.6/68e: Telegram
The Commission to Negotiate Peace to the Secretary of State
4823. [From Polk.] Commission has under consideration what disposition shall be made of its files when the Commission is finally dissolved and is inclined to believe that it would be very desirable to have all files transferred to the Embassy for at least a certain period of time before they are finally sent to Washington. The reasons for this are:
- (1)
- Many matters will still be pending which will require reference to files;
- (2)
- Pending matters cannot be separated from matters which have been concluded without disarranging whole filing system;
- (3)
- Department already has great butt: of material on Commission’s files, as this is included in telegrams and despatches to and from Department;
- (4)
- Commission could send to Embassy someone who is familiar with filing system;
- (5)
- It is believed that the Department has copies of all S. H. Bulletins, minutes and other mimeographed matter which are on Commission’s files. Department also has all printed reports, et cetera;
- (6)
- Work in Paris could be handled with more expedition if files were here. Necessity of cabling to Washington for information on many points would also be eliminated.
The above is of course based on the supposition that the Peace Commission as a separate unit will be dissolved before the work of the Conference is concluded and that the Embassy will handle questions left unsettled. Under these circumstances it is believed that the Department will appreciate the desirability of having these files remain until a date can be determined when their presence in Paris will not be so essential as to warrant retention. Your views are requested. Polk.