Paris Peace Conf. 184/12
President Wilson to the Secretary of State
My Dear Mr. Secretary: As I said to you orally yesterday, I think that the enclosed29 is much too ambitious a programme, and I would be obliged if you would have a simpler one worked out,30 in the meantime telling Dr. Mezes that it is so unlikely that anything but the main territorial, political and racial questions at issue will be settled at the peace conference and practically so certain that all detailed discussions of financial and commercial and other similar arrangements will be delegated by the conference to special conferences or commissions, that I think he ought to plan only to carry the men and materials with him which will be serviceable in settling the main questions, together of course with the necessary clerical aid.
The Department itself in the meantime can work out the necessary minimum personnel and organization.
Cordially and sincerely yours,