File No. 763.72/8181
The Ambassador in France ( Sharp) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 17, 6.20 a.m.]
2900. For the President:
This afternoon Mr. Clemenceau, President of the Council, telephoned asking if I could meet him on a most important matter. On seeing him he handed to me to read the following communication expressing a very earnest desire that I at once cable the same to you. This I promised to do and to follow the same line by cabling you to the Department the chief points set out in the statement to which he refers:
From President of Council Clemenceau to President Wilson concerning gasoline supply of France: Just at the critical moment of the war, when the year 1918 will begin in the midst of military operations, of great magnitude and of crucial importance, on our front, the armies of France must never be exposed to run short of gasoline which is necessary for the motor lorries, for the field artillery with tractors and for aviation.
The shortage of gasoline would cause the sudden paralysis of our armies and drive us all into an unacceptable peace.
Now, the stock gasoline which has been fixed by the French Commander in Chief as a minimum amounts to 44,000 tons and the monthly consumption of the French armies alone average to 30,000 tons.
To-day, 15th December, he said that stock has fallen down to 28,000 tons and should exceptional measures not be taken at once by the Government of the United States, it will very likely fall to nothing in a short period of about two months.
These measures may and must be taken without a single day’s delay for the common safeguard of the Allies. The only thing is that President Wilson should obtain from the American oil companies the extra 100,000 tons of tank steamers which are necessary to France for the supply of her armies and people and which must be put at her disposal for the direction of the war.
These tank steamers exist, some are plying in the Pacific Ocean instead of sailing in the Atlantic, others can be provided from the new fleet of tankers which is now being built in the United States.
Therefore, President Clemenceau asks President Wilson personally to act with authority of head of the Government for the immediate sailing for the French ports of said 100,000 extra tons of tankers.
There is for the Allies a question of public salvation. If they are determined not to lose the war, the fighting France must, by the hour of supreme Germanic blow, have large supplies of gasoline which is, in the battle of to-morrow, as necessary as blood.
Knowing something of the grave concern with which everybody in France looks upon the military situation for the ensuing few weeks and being familiar with the drastic regulations which are being made to conserve the gasoline supply throughout France I am sure that Mr. Clemenceau does not overstate the seriousness of the situation.
As a suggestion of some possible value may it not be feasible for a larger number of the smaller boats sailing on the Great Lakes to be sent through the Canal for the ocean-carrying trade in this particular service. Lake navigation has now closed and will not be resumed for several months.