Paris Peace Conf. 184.011/17
The Secretary of the Commission to Negotiate Peace ( Grew ) to Professor A. C. Coolidge
Paris
, December
26, 1918.
Subject: Observation in Eastern countries.
- 1.
- You are directed to proceed without undue delay to Switzerland, and as soon as the necessary preliminaries are settled then to Vienna or some other suitable point from which you can make arrangements for the forwarding of news to the Commission. You will also, as soon as is feasible, send agents for a longer or shorter time to such places as Prague, Agram, Budapest, Lemberg, and Warsaw. [Page 219] In view of the many uncertainties, and the changing nature of the situation, you will have to use your discretion as to where and when and how the agents under your control may best be employed at any given point, and they may be freely transferred from one place to another according to circumstances. The field of their observation will cover as much as possible the territories comprised in the former empires of Austria-Hungary and adjacent regions, particularly Poland. Though the course of events may make changes advisable, Vienna would appear the natural point you would choose for centralization and transmission of your news. It will be your headquarters from which you visit other places under the charge of your agents. Your duties and theirs, as at present instructed, will be to observe and to report frequently to the Commission matters that may be of interest.
- 2.
- You will make use of such means of communication as are available, and may authorize your agents to forward direct reports if valuable time is saved thereby.
- 3.
- The Commission will meet all proper expenses on your mission when duly supported by accounts and vouchers.
- 4.
- It is desired that you enter upon your activities with as little loss of time as possible, and to furnish the Commission with information, even if imperfect, at an early date.