860h.00/43: Telegram
Colonel E. M. House to the Secretary of State
[Received December 2—7:48 p.m.]
221. Secret for the President. Referring to my telegram number 120 of November 18th and your reply number 50 of November 19th.
I at once took the matter up with the French and British Governments and found that they were in favor of the despatch of American troops to Italy. I thereupon requested General Pershing after conferring with Marshal Foch to inform me whether he approved of despatching American troops for service in Italy. He replied that as far as the military situation was concerned he was opposed to taking this step, but he thought that the troops already in Italy might be used for occupying the disputed territory. He accordingly telegraphed to General Treat to notify him of the disposition which had been made of the American soldiers in Italy. General Treat replied that one battalion was at Cattaro, one at Fiume, and one at Treviso. General Pershing is now in receipt of the following telegram under date of November 28th from the War Department:
“Confidential. The use of American troops with the Italian army is a very difficult and complicated matter and the Secretary of War is of the opinion that our troops there should be withdrawn to your command. Please take this matter up with Marshal Foch and arrange to have American units returned to you. March. Harris.”
In view of the above telegram General Pershing recommended General Treat to assemble the American troops at an Italian port with a view of returning them to United States direct. Notwithstanding the desire of the War Department to withdraw all American forces from Italy, in view of your one six [105?] of November 30th23 I am still of the opinion that they should be retained there for some little time longer both for the purpose indicated in my telegram above mentioned and also because their withdrawal at this particular time might create an unfortunate impression in Italy. The numbers involved are very small and the Italian Government has made few demands upon the American Expeditionary Force. I suggest that any step [Page 320] which may be taken in this connection be made through the Secretary of War.