File No. 763.72/13413a

The Secretary of State to the French Ambassador ( Jursserand )

My Dear Mr. Ambassador: I enclose for your information and for transmittal to your Government if you so desire, a paraphrase of a telegram which was sent yesterday by the Secretary of War to General Pershing.

I am [etc.]

Robert Lansing
[Page 476]
[Enclosure—Telegram—Paraphrase]

The Secretary of War ( Baker ) to the Commander of the American Expeditionary Force ( Pershing )

The President has been urged by both British and French to accede to their desire to have your forces amalgamated with theirs by regiments and companies; both express the belief that a heavy drive by the Germans is impending somewhere along the line of the western front. While the loss of identity of our forces is not desired, we regard that as secondary to the meeting of any critical situation by the use of the troops at your command in the most helpful manner possible. Where the drive or drives of the enemy will take place it is, of course, difficult to determine. Any redistribution of your forces would be difficult in advance of some knowledge of that question. However, the President desires to accord you full authority to use the forces under your command as you may deem wise after consultation with the Commanders in Chief of the French and British forces. For your consideration it is suggested that it might possibly be well to select places for your forces nearer the junction of the British and French lines in order that you might be in a position to throw your strength in whichever direction it might be most needed. It is not the purpose of the President to press this suggestion beyond whatever merit it has in your judgment; his sole purpose is to acquaint you with the representations which have been made here and to grant you entire freedom of action in making the best possible use and disposition of your forces to accomplish the main purposes in view.

By your conferences with the British and French commanders it is hoped that complete unity and coordination of action can be secured in this matter.

Please keep me informed of the result of any conferences you may have with the French and British commanders and of the line of action upon which you may agree.