File No. 763.72/13413a
The Secretary of State
to the French Ambassador (
Jursserand)
Washington,
December 19, 1917.
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.]
[Page 476]
[Enclosure—Telegram—Paraphrase]
The Secretary of War (
Baker) to the Commander of the American Expeditionary Force
(
Pershing)
Washington,
December 18,
1917.
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.
