File No. 763.72119/9100
The Special Representative ( House) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 8, 5.10 p.m.]
65. For Polk from Auchincloss:
Your 16, November 7, 4 p.m.1 I have investigated this matter and I understand Embassy is reporting fully concerning it. My information coincides with that given Embassy. Most of the officials in Paris and practically every non-official person here believed yesterday that the armistice had been signed. Captain Jackson, naval attaché at the Embassy, sent Admiral Wilson at Brest a wire to that effect. Wilson showed wire to Roy Howard at Brest and sent an aide with him to cable censor so that Howard would be permitted to send through a despatch stating that the armistice had been signed. It is perfectly clear that United Press was not at fault in this matter and that the fault, if any, lies with Jackson or the French official who started the rumor. I suggest that War and Navy Departments instruct their representatives in Europe to discontinue sending despatches respecting matters peculiarly within our knowledge without consulting us.
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