Paris Peace Conf. 184.011/172: Telegram
The Commission to Negotiate Peace to Professor A. C. Coolidge
83. The Commission desires you to make immediate arrangements to bring your mission to a close and to proceed to Paris as soon as possible. Halstead, former Consul General at Vienna, now at Stockholm, has been instructed by the Department to proceed immediately to Vienna to take over the work which you will be leaving. Vice Consul Heingartner will leave Paris for Vienna Tuesday, May 20th [Page 526] and is to remain there with Halstead. You may turn over to him such of your records and material as you consider should be of value to Mr. Halstead. In case any member of your party, including clerks, are willing to remain in Vienna to assist Mr. Halstead temporarily the Commission would be glad to have them stay pending definite arrangements which Mr. Halstead will make upon his arrival. Heingartner will receive instructions from the Commission in regard to the nature of his work.
As the Commission desires that you should be in Paris as soon as possible after the presentation of the terms to the Austrian delegates, which will probably take place between the 23rd and 27th instant, you may use your own judgment as to whether it is necessary for you to await in Vienna to close all the details of your mission personally. It is suggested that Lt. King be instructed to proceed directly to Paris possibly via Fiume and Trieste in case you are able to communicate such a message to him.
Acknowledge receipt of this message and inform the Commission of your plans.