File No. 195/102
The Assistant Secretary of State ( Phillips ) to President Wilson
My Dear Mr. President: I had a talk this morning with Mr. Gillet, who is one of Mr. Tardieu’s right-hand men, and explained fully your anxiety to help France in every possible way, that you were in close touch with the Shipping Board on the subject of Mr. Tardieu’s memorandum,1 and that I felt that there was nothing to be gained at the present moment by a further conference between you and Mr. Tardieu. I am sure that Mr. Tardieu will fully understand your position and will not urge for an interview at this time.
Mr. Gillet said that their real anxiety was for a decision on our part; that if there was a decision in the negative it would at least put them in a position to proceed on their own account. He expressed Mr. Tardieu’s fear that there would be no decision one way or the other, and that this would give rise to a very embarrassing position for France in view of the extreme urgency for additional shipping.
With assurances of respect [etc.]