Paris Peace Conf. 811.22/1
General Tasker H. Bliss to President Wilson 33
My Dear Mr. President: At the request of the American Peace Commission, I submit the following for your consideration:
The Commission held a meeting today at 12:30 o’clock, in the apartments of Admiral Benson, for the purpose of hearing a statement presented by Captain Gherardi, United States Navy, of the present conditions on the east coast of the Adriatic. Captain Gherardi has just returned from that quarter, having been sent there to investigate these conditions.
I do not now refer to these conditions in general, but only to those which concern, and which to some extent have been brought about by, the use of the small force of American troops serving with the Italian Army.
It is the unanimous opinion of the American Peace Commission that Captain Gherardi’s statement of facts as observed by him indicates that the American troops are being used to further a policy of occupation [Page 338] and penetration which, if not contrary to the terms of the armistice with Austria-Hungary, is at least unnecessary under that armistice. In one case, an attempt was made to use a small American force to effect, without any apparent justifiable reason, a penetration into Montenegro.
In general, it seems that the policy governing the use of this regiment has been to ensure the scattering of it so that at no time does it come, as a unit, under the control of its commander who is the only experienced officer with it. The result appears to be that the regiment is being employed not for legitimate military purposes but to further political aims. And this, almost of necessity ensues from having a small force entirely separated from the control of its Supreme Command.
I have already stated to you my reasons for thinking that it would not be well, at this late stage in the operations under the armistice to entirely withdraw this American regiment. But the American Peace Commission thinks that you may find it desirable to authorize it to draw up certain general rules to govern the use of this regiment (without, of course, the slightest interference with its command or administration), to be submitted to the Commander-in-Chief of the American Expeditionary Forces in France and transmitted by him to the Commander of the American regiment in Italy for his general guidance during the armistice. These rules would be transmitted to the regimental commander through the American general who is our Liaison Officer in Italy and who would effect a general understanding on the subject with the Italian authorities.
Very respectfully,
- This paper bears the notation: “Approved Woodrow Wilson”. ↩