862t.01/109: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Observer on the Rhineland High Commission (Noyes)40
Your May 22nd, noon.
In opinion of Department active American participation on Rhineland Commission is impossible with treaty un-ratified. United States has no representative on other commissions dealing with matters more nearly touching American interests. At the present time the only definite duty of an American representative is to insure so far as practicable agreement between regulations in the American zone of occupation and the general purposes of the commission. For this General Allen is admirably fitted. His appointment as observer therefore is not any injection of the military element into what is and should remain a civilian commission nor is it any departure from the principles enunciated by the President. If the treaty should be ratified the United States would immediately appoint a [Page 329] civilian commissioner. This being the case and General Allen’s duties being only those of an observer, it would appear that a large part of your personnel might be relieved shortly. The Secretary of War has already cabled General Allen that the retention of such of your personnel as he deems essential is authorized temporarily but that as soon as possible he must depend upon his own staff.
- Via the Embassy in France as no. 1024.↩