Edward M. House Papers
Copy of Telegram From the British Ambassador in France ( Derby ) to the British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs ( Balfour )
President of the Council wishes me to communicate to you immediately following part of long and satisfactory conversation which he yesterday had with President Wilson.
Latter informed him that he was anxious to attend the Peace Conference. He added that if the Conference declared that they preferred that he should not attend, he would quite understand, but he nevertheless desired that his wishes in the matter should be known.
On the President of the Council pointing out that other Heads of States might wish to attend the Conference and that difficulties might arise in consequence, President stated that he would attend as Head of the U. S. Government and not in his capacity of President. He pointed out that the case of the U. S. of America was different from those of France and England, as in the latter countries nothing could be done by the Heads of States without the approval of the President of the Council and the Prime Minister respectively, whereas in the United States nothing could be done without reference to him. He [Page 150] would not dream of urging that he should preside at the Conference, as that was clearly the prerogative of Monsieur Clemenceau, but he strongly pressed that he should be permitted to be present.
The President of the Council asks me to let you know that although he was at first very strongly opposed to the idea he is now of the opinion that the President ought to be allowed to attend the Conference as a member and he himself intends to support his request. He feels sure that if it became known that the President had expressed a wish to be present and had been refused the effect would be very bad, at any rate in France. He would be grateful for your views and those of the Prime Minister with regard to the President’s proposal.