123D322/70
The Commissioner at Danzig (Dawson) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 23.]
Sir: I have the honor, with reference to my despatch of October 30, 1919,1 reporting my departure from the United States on the U.S.S. George Washington, to state that Mr. Albert Halstead, jr., and myself landed at Brest, France, on November 12th and proceeded to Paris the same day. We arrived at Paris on the 13th instant and reported immediately to the American Peace Mission. Following the advice of the Mission, we left Paris for Warsaw on November 17th by the French Military Train which makes the journey via Switzerland and Vienna. Upon my arrival at Warsaw on the afternoon of November 20th, I reported to the American Legation in that city and arranged to proceed to Danzig by the [Page 95] first available train leaving Warsaw on the 25th. Mr. Halstead and myself arrived in Danzig on the morning of November 26th.
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Under the circumstances it would seem that I shall have no immediate occasion to perform the usual consular services and, inasmuch as I cannot for the present be regularly accredited and recognized, the situation is in this respect fortunate. However, this state of affairs is undoubtedly only temporary and, as soon as conditions both locally and in Poland become more settled, Danzig should develop into an important and active center. Judging from a cursory survey of the situation, I have arrived here none too soon for a considerable amount of preparatory work and investigation.
I have already called on the principal German authorities who are, of course, for the present still in charge at Danzig. On all sides I have received a very courteous reception and several of the officials, to whom I have duly explained my status, have offered to assist me in every way possible. I am rather inclined to believe, this being of course but a first impression, that the feeling towards Americans is more friendly than towards other allied nationals and I imagine that this may be due in part to the fact that American participation in the future development of the city may be expected to be free from any attempt at political advantage.
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I have [etc.]
- Not printed.↩