Paris Peace Conf. 181.9202/266: Telegram
General Bandholtz to the Commission to Negotiate Peace
[Received November 30—10:20 a.m.]
Polk from Bandholtz. Replying to your No. 119.77 In my opinion no longer necessity continuance Interallied Military Mission. All instructions already practically carried out far as possible. There is no reason for my remaining except as given in telegram to Loree, and appointment as Special Commissioner until short time after Grant-Smith’s arrival, if soon, should [be] sufficient. Have already arranged to reduce staff and should like to retain until my departure Colonel Loree, Colonel Sheldon, Captain Gore, Field Clerk Fenselau and six enlisted men. My present funds last until December 15th at least and after that date expenses would average about $100 per diem. Cost of fuel now exorbitant. Serbs reported evacuating Baranya district plundering as they go. This Mission has sent four officers there for appropriate action. Roumanians still holding fast to line of the Tisza and bragging they have now only army in Europe and can do as they please. Arrangements should be made for turning over at once to proper commission the Hungarian claims so ably compiled by Colonel Loree. The Vienna Commission [Mission] telegraphs that Paris pouch for Budapest was through carelessness of a clerk returned to Paris and our pouch for Paris was left in Vienna. My vocabulary cannot do sufficient [the subject] justice.