Paris Peace Conf. 840.48/5
Colonel E. M. House to the British Ambassador in France ( Derby )
My Dear Lord Derby: Would you be good enough to cable to your Government that I acknowledge receipt of the message addressed to me and contained in a telegram to you from the Foreign Office dated January 1, 1919.
I note with satisfaction that His Majesty’s Government agree that the letter dated December 23rd addressed to me from the French Minister for Foreign Affairs may be considered as embodying an amplification of their views concerning the proposals contained in my letter of December 1, 1918 to Mr. Balfour.
On January 1, 1919 I sent you a letter addressed to Mr. Balfour57 containing a copy of my answer to Monsieur Pichon’s letter of the 23rd ultimo. I hope very much that it will be possible for you to advise me in the near future of the names of His Majesty’s Government’s representatives.
I note that Lord Reading in the telegram from him, which you handed me yesterday states:—
“I am of the opinion that this Council ought to be appointed to consider and decide questions of general policy, while Mr. Hoover as mandatory should be entrusted with the actual administration of relief.”
I agree with Lord Reading that the Council should deal with questions of policy and that Mr. Hoover should have general charge of the undertaking. The proposals that I have made at the direction of the President have never contemplated that the President’s appointee for this work should act as the mandatory of an Allied [Page 700] Council. It is, of course, understood that the Director General of Relief, in coordination of efforts of the various governments, will in practice act on behalf of the Council.
I shall be obliged to you if you would communicate the foregoing to your Government.
I am [etc.]