Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, The Paris Peace Conference, 1919, Volume I

Woodrow Wilson Papers

The French High Commissioner to the United States ( Tardieu ) to Colonel E. M. House

Paris , December 24, 1918.

My Dear Colonel House: The Cabinet this morning have agreed on the terms of the following memorandum, which they asked me to forward to you to be submitted to the President before he leaves for London.

Believe me [etc.]

André Tardieu

[Autograph note by Colonel House:]

Tardieu was anxious for you to get this before you reached London. He said Clemenceau was very interested in it.

E. M. H.

[Enclosure]

Memorandum Agreed Upon by the French Cabinet

The French Government is considering how to deal, in consultation with the associated Governments, with the economic problems during the transitional period after the war.

The French Government’s aim is to avoid too deep a perturbation in the social life of nations and to prevent some of them having suddenly to face a disadvantageous situation, solely caused by the war.

Up to the present, the supplies for the Allies are mostly guaranteed through interallied organizations that are connected with either the Allied Food Council or the Inter-allied Maritime Transport Council or the Programme Committees.

The French Government realizes that these organizations must be modified so as to be adapted to the new conditions deriving from the cessation of hostilities; however, they want to expose to President Wilson that, in their opinion, these councils cannot be suppressed without all the Allies incurring a great danger before they could discuss of new steps that would be found opportune.

Therefore the French Government expresses the earnest wish that American Representatives be maintained until further notice in these councils, at least as consulting members.