763.72119/8210c: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Commission to Negotiate Peace
4002. For Polk. Before your departure will you present to Clemenceau the following message from me?
“My dear Mr. President: At the moment when after more than a year of continuous labor the American Mission to Negotiate Peace is taking its departure from Paris I desire to extend to you and through you to the people of France a personal message of thanks for the unfailing courtesy that has been shown the American representatives in your country. Throughout the many months of difficult and delicate negotiations in which our representatives participated your constant hospitality and generous spirit has been a source of profound gratification to me. It is my earnest hope that the peace for which we have worked together shall soon have been attained, and the world restored to the blessings of the normal state which it so sorely needs. Peace alone can mend the ravages of the past five years, and satisfy the yearnings of the men and women everywhere whose bodies and souls have been so heavily burdened. I am convinced that with the fruits of peace will come an even closer measure of cooperation between our peoples, and that our bond of friendship, sanctified by common sacrifice, will become still more closely united to meet the problems of the future. Faithfully yours, Robert Lansing.”