File No. 763.72/9881
The Ambassador in France ( Sharp) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 16. 2.55 a.m.]
3627. Following joint telegram from Allied ministers, dated Jassy, April 14:
[We] believe it is correct that in a conversation with the United States Minister, Mr. Marghiloman declared that he has no doubt concerning a victory of the Central Empires in Europe. An endeavor should be made to counteract this tendency of the President of the Council to establish a distinction between the cause of the United States and that of the other Allies. We consider therefore, that the United States Minister should be invited to declare that his country will not lay down arms until after the definitive victory of the Entente and will spare no effort to hasten it by sending troops to the Austrian front as well as into Russia, where the total abstention of the Allied Powers is interpreted here as a confession of powerlessness. Furthermore only an energetic inter-Allied action can constitute a serious obstacle to the limited [unlimited?] food [Page 769] supplies which the Central Powers will otherwise obtain from Russia at the next harvest.