Paris Peace Conf. 855.51/3
The Special Commissioner of Finance in Europe
(
Crosby
) to the Secretary of
State
Paris
, 11 January,
1919.
My Dear Mr. Secretary: I enclose herewith a copy
of a portion of a cablegram sent by me to the Secretary of the Treasury,
referring to the Belgian Army.
I shall be glad to transmit to Secretary Glass any suggestions that may be
made to me, unless they reach him independently, in which latter case I
should be glad to be advised of them.
Cordially yours,
[Enclosure]
Extract From a Telegram From the Special Commissioner
of Finance in Europe (
Crosby
) to the Secretary of the Treasury
(
Glass
)
[
Paris
,] January
9, 1919.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- Thirteenth. Belgian agent here not yet ready to submit new
estimates for army, but states that his Government expects to
increase its army by approximately 100,000 men. This will result
from demobilization of approximately 100,000 who have served at the
front, but taking on approximately 200,000 young men of military age
who have not served. There are domestic reasons for this procedure,
but it seems
[Page 565]
to me
impossible to suppose that such an increase of military strength is
required for the prosecution of the war against Germany. British
Treasury disturbed by similar considerations, but will probably pass
Belgian requisition for increased number of uniforms, supplying same
from old British stocks otherwise of small value.
- Fourteenth. The independent determination by European governments
of demobilization and generally of their military organizations must
present questions of great difficulty in so far as support of these
organizations by United States funds is concerned. In conformity
with views expressed in my No. 920,24a I will report
to our political representatives in Paris, as I now report to you,
proposed increase in Belgian army strength. My present personal
recommendation would be against support of increased numbers, but I
hesitate to express a final opinion on this subject, since it is
connected with political considerations not in my hands.
