Paris Peace Conf. 184/245b: Telegram
The Commission to Negotiate Peace to the Secretary of State
5572. Personal and confidential from Polk to the Secretary of State only. I told M. Clemenceau that your decision was final and that we would all leave on Tuesday night. He was very anxious to learn what arrangements had been made to watch the situation in Germany and to continue unfinished business such as the Hungarian treaty and the question of minorities in Roumania.
He was greatly depressed when he found that I could give him no answer. He said that it appeared as if France were being abandoned.
It is now known generally that we are leaving on Tuesday and there is bitter criticism of the United States both here and in England. It is said that it is impossible to rely on the United States and some of our best friends here believe that even if the treaty is passed the withdrawal of the United States at this time will seriously affect our influence in the League of Nations. I still hope to hear that Ambassador Wallace can be given at least limited powers in connection with the unfinished work. Polk.