661.119/444: Telegram
The Commission to Negotiate Peace to the Secretary of State
[Received 8:54 p.m.]
3323. For the President.
Referring to your number 2594, July 18, noon. I communicated yesterday afternoon to the Council of Five the President’s decision which caused considerable disappointment. An informal conversation, entirely friendly in tone, thereupon ensued in the course of which Balfour created a distinction between belligerency and warfare, which latter, he said, is now going on to a considerable extent in those parts and British soldiers are being killed. He and Clemenceau [Page 154] finally decided that the latter should make an appeal to the President by telegraph for reconsideration his decision on grounds to be set forth in the telegram, which I understand is to be drafted by Balfour and despatched by Clemenceau this evening.