Office of the Historian

Paris Peace Conf. 180.035/6: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Commission to Negotiate Peace

Washington, October 10, 1919—4 p.m.
[Received October 11—10:57 a.m.]

3396. Strictly confidential. For Polk from the Secretary. Your 4589, Oct. 9th, 2 p.m. I am inclined to agree with you, that the Roumanian situation and the Italian question are matters to be handled by the Commission rather than by the Ambassador.

1st:
I agree with you that the Dutch-Belgian discussions should be handled by the Department.
2d:
I agree that the reparations question should be handled by Rathbone directly with the Department.
3d:
The question of any modification to the Treaty when the Senate ratifies it, should be handled by the Department.
4th:
I feel that the Mission should handle any modifications requested by the Bulgarians with respect to the Bulgarian treaty, keeping in touch of course with the Department.
5th:
I think the plan outlined in your paragraph “Five” relating to the signing of the Hungarian Treaty is workable. If the details of the Hungarian Treaty could be decided on I see no reason why the Ambassador could not be authorized to execute the Treaty when an effectively responsible Government is formed.
Lansing