File No. 855.48/481
The Ambassador in Great Britain ( Page) to the Secretary of State
[Received l.20 p.m.]
5811. Your 4386, February 3, 4 p.m.1 For Secretary and Hoover: If the commission had withdrawn when break occurred with Germany and remained out, the blame would clearly have fallen on Germany. The constant controversies and entanglements that have since come show clearly that the Germans are maneuvering to throw blame on the commission and then to dismiss and eject it. I had advised commissioners here immediately to withdraw from France and Belgium. They wish Hoover to give Poland authority to take this action. Now information conies through Hoover that the Department has taken subject in hand, the commission, therefore, I presume, can not act except under instructions of the Department. Is this correct?
Delay in withdrawing will in my judgment result in the humiliation of the commission and in its ejection.
Kellogg reports hopeless conflict of opinion in Brussels. The Belgians wish Americans to remain even in case of war. Gregory favors remaining till war is declared; Whitlock favors immediate withdrawal. Meantime neither southern nor northern route to Rotterdam is safe.
I await and ask for instructions from Department.