Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, 1917, Supplement 2, The World War, Volume I

File No. 763.72/7857

Memorandum of the Assistant Secretary of State ( Phillips) to the Secretary of State

October 23, 1917.

Dear Mr. Secretary: Mr. de Laboulaye¹ called this afternoon in behalf of the French Ambassador and expressed the Ambassador’s regret that he could not call himself upon you to-day. The Embassy has received an urgent telegram from Paris saying that the British and French Governments are prepared jointly to address the Japanese Government with the request that Japan should send troops to the west front next spring and summer. The French regard this of the highest importance, but do not wish to take any further step in the matter until they are assured that there will be no objection raised by the Government of the United States.²

Sincerely,

W. Phillips

1. Lefebvre de Laboulaye, Second Secretary of the French Embassy.
2. Memorandum attached: “October 26, 1917. I told De Laboulaye to-day that although the United States would raise no objection to the contemplated step, we were not convinced that it was a wise one to take. W.P.”