Paris Peace Conf. 103.97/3n: Telegram
The Commission to Negotiate Peace to the Acting Secretary of State
48. From Hoover. Your 6664 December 17th 7 p.m.43 … We have certain cargoes en route for Trieste, we have moving appeals from Vienna where the situation is very serious, but have deferred dealing with this situation until Allies will agree to joint action with us as we are anxious to preserve a solid allied front in dealing with enemy situation. There is a delegation from Vienna in Berne and I [Page 684] am sending Cotton and Taylor to discuss matters with them. The President telegraphed more than 2 weeks ago through Colonel House a proposal to the three Allied Governments for an Inter-Allied Food Control under the executive direction of the American representative. You doubtless have access to this document. There has thus far been no reply to the President but the Food officials of the three Governments have made counterproposals which are quite unacceptable. Entire matter is still unsettled. In the meantime the situation is extremely critical in a number of places and the President has found it necessary to order American representatives sent to Serbia and other points to look into the situation and make such distribution as may seem wise of food stocks now in Trieste and enroute thereto as the situation may seem to require. He has at the same time requested the three Allied Governments to send their representatives to join ours and work for the coordination of Allied efforts.
I shall of course keep you fully informed as to developments.
- To the Ambassador in France, for Mr. Hoover, not printed.↩