Paris Peace Conf. 184/234a: Telegram
The Commission to Negotiate Peace to the Secretary of State
4958. Strictly confidential for Phillips from Polk. Your 3636, November 1, 4 p.m.3 Many thanks for your prompt response. Appreciate your thought and wish I could avail myself of opportunity, but assume Secretary wishes me to stay here to wind up Commission. Bulgarian treaty will be signed next week. British and ourselves are trying to force settlement of Hungarian question. Confidentially, do not think ratifications of German treaty will be deposited until about 25th. Assume these details in connection with ratification, even though we may have ratified, could be carried out by Ambassador. If Fiume is not settled, these negotiations can be carried on through State Department. Crowe and I announced this morning informally that we expected to leave without fail latter part of month. Of course all this is subject to Secretary’s wishes. Please show him this telegram and cable me his impressions.
Attitude of French and Italians is so unsatisfactory in connection with Hungary that I stated this morning that it was my unofficial view that the United States should not take part in any further joint commission until this matter was straightened out.
Do you think it would be possible to persuade the proper authorities to send George Washington back for another trip to bring Peace Commission, assistants, and records home? Of course there would be Army people too. Polk.
- Not printed; it referred to a suggestion from Mr. Phillips that Mr. Polk might wish to return on a sailing of the George Washington about November 10.↩