File No. 763.72119/685
The Ambassador in France ( Sharp ) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 24, 11.05 a.m.]
2321. Section 1. Mr. Cambon has asked me to transmit to the Department certain questions which Mr. Ribot, President of the Council, had formulated as likely to be discussed, though unofficially, and exclusive of those relative to the Balkans, which are the stated object of the conference to be held in Paris Wednesday, 25th instant. He had previously asked me to call at the Foreign Office, that he might acquaint me with the contents of a cablegram received from Mr. Jusserand which set forth the reasons of the President for declining to have our Government represented at this so-called [Page 145] Balkan conference. I feel sure the President decided very wisely. While expressing disappointment that our Government was not to be represented at the conference, Mr. Cambon said that it had occurred to both Mr. Ribot and himself that in lieu of such reports it might be very helpful if they might get some opinion as to the attitude of our Government upon questions which, under certain contingencies, are liable to arise. He did not indicate at the time the nature of the questions and I did not anticipate they would take form so quickly.
On the following day, however, Mr. Cambon telephoned me that a note had been mailed to me setting out these questions and we thereupon arranged for a meeting at his office. The questions which he asked me to transmit are in substance as follows:
- 1.
- The Russian Government has proposed to submit to a future conference the examination of the Allied objects of the war. The English, French and its representatives may be called upon on this occasion to examine the expediency of accepting or rejecting this proposition and in case that it should be accepted the objects that the Allies ought to maintain in common accord.
- 2.
- A rumor has circulated that Austria was looking for a separate peace and certain indications show that that country is manifestly tired of the war. It may be useful to examine how one should look upon the suggestions which might come from that direction.
- 3.
- The questions concerning Asia Minor have been at several times the objects of agreements between the Allies. These agreements can be affected by the very nature of the issue of the war and we should be happy to know the sentiments of your Government on the subject.
- 4.
- There is need of caution that persons who make themselves, knowingly or not, the echoes of German intrigues in Allied countries spread the report that the military efforts of the United States will be incomplete and tardy. It is essential to combat these harmful rumors and, at the same time in order to regulate the effort that on our front the Anglo-French, Belgian and Italian forces ought to make, to know exactly the expectations of the Government of Washington on the total military concourse that it will be able to lend us and on the different delays that this concourse will necessitate.
- 5.
- Finally it has been learned that the American Government had the thought of leaving to the Allies themselves the allotment of the sums that the United States should put at their disposition, and Mr. Cambon added that the French Government would be pleased to know if it would be notified of a proposition in this sense before the conference of Paris, 25th of July, for it would be appropriate to be able to deliberate upon it.
Concluding his communication to me he said: “Such are the different questions to which it seems to me expedient that you should [Page 146] call the attention of your Government and that you should ask from it precise indications.”
Mr. Matsui, the Japanese Ambassador, telephoned me this morning that while his Government had been invited to participate in conference, yet on account of the uncertainty of its doing so, he had cabled at the request of the Foreign Office to find out its position upon certain questions.
End of first section.