Paris Peace Conf. 184/137: Telegram
The Commission to Negotiate Peace to the Acting Secretary of State
1331. Department’s 1188, March 19, 7 p.m. Ammission cannot understand allusion to former members of Berne Legation staff being in constant telegraphic communication with Paris from different parts of Central Europe. Special information missions now operating under directions of Commission or on their way are: one, Austro-Hungarian mission including also Poland; two, Southern Russian mission; three, Baltic Provinces Mission. None of these includes service diplomats nor at present in any case any person who has been attached to any Embassy or Legation during the war.
Referring to depletion of Legation staffs for use of Mission. Ammission in view of great mass of diplomatic and political correspondence has found it necessary to establish a special division in charge of persons with diplomatic experience to handle the material and they are kept exceedingly busy. This division includes two members of diplomatic service from Berne Legation staff and three clerks from Berne. The Berne Legation has emphasized the decrease of work there and willingly assented to the transfer of this personnel. Besides these the Division includes one member of The Hague Legation staff. In addition to these one member of The Hague Legation and one of the Berne Legation act as secretaries to Commissioners and Osborne shortly expected here from Copenhagen. It is not thought that this utilization of members of the Central Europe missions is unreasonable or excessive in view of great and increasing volume of work here.
As far as Germany is concerned for reasons fully explained in Ammissions 921, February 26, 9 p.m., the Mission has been withdrawn. Detailed written reports from members of German party have only just been compiled and will be promptly forwarded by courier. Ammissions 968, February 27, represents latest direct news of real importance from observers in Germany. If another mission goes in Ammission will not fail to keep Department fully informed by cable.
Referring Austro-Hungary and other missions same course of forwarding written reports and telegraphing summaries of important information is being pursued and will be carefully followed up.