Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, 1917, Supplement 2, The World War, Volume I

File No. 763.72/13385

The French Embassy to the Department of State ¹

The French Government has invited the British, Russian and Italian Governments to a conference on the military situation in the Balkans for July 16. First the idea was to invite only the representatives of the nations fighting in the Balkans. But many questions will be raised at this conference touching the general military situation. In these conditions the French Government will be glad to have the representative of the American Government taking part in this conference.

M. Ribot will be very pleased if the Secretary of State would kindly send instructions on this subject to Mr. Sharp and to General Pershing.

[Washington,], July 6, 1917.

1. According to attached memoranda, a reply by telephone was promised at the earliest moment, and this reply, July 13, was “Declined.”