Paris Peace Conf. 181.9202/221a: Telegram
The Commission to Negotiate Peace to the Secretary of State
5011. [From Polk.] General Bandholtz, the American representative on the Interallied Mission in Budapest, recommends that an American diplomatic or consular representative should be sent to Hungary as soon as possible. He states that he is obliged to take up cases of American citizens and handle these because they cannot get action from the Spanish Consul in charge of American interests. The Italians have already sent a diplomatic representative. I believe that we should send someone to Budapest with the same status as that [Page 716] of Halstead in Vienna. Coffin would seem to be the best possible choice if he could be spared and I feel that in view of the particularly difficult situation in Hungary, arising out of the policy and actions of the Roumanians, it would be highly desirable to have a first-class American representative on the spot when the Interallied Mission is withdrawn. Please inform me whether you think this can be arranged at an early date. Polk.