Paris Peace Conf. 184.012/42a: Telegram
The Commission to Negotiate Peace to the Acting Secretary of State
921. Ammission’s 501 January 30th 2 PM. Captain Gherardi returned to Paris February 17th and is now on his way home. After [Page 38] full consideration and consultation with him the gradual withdrawal of the members of the Mission has been decided upon and Major Whitridge and Captain Chanler as well as the Naval Communication party are already here. The reasons for this withdrawal are the following: (1) At the present time it seems unnecessary to keep a large permanent force in Germany for information purposes only and it is thought that the same purpose can be attained by sending in certain selected observers from time to time. (2) The military uniform worn by most members of Mission proved a handicap as it attracted attention and rendered the acquisition of confidential information difficult. (3) From a reliable source information was obtained of a projected attack at the hands of irresponsible agitators apparently including Russian and Bolshevik elements upon Captain Gherardi’s life. This was treated by the Foreign Office as a serious matter and resulted in restrictions on the movements of the party, employment of detectives etcetera.
The following arrangements have been made: Franklin Day will remain at present in Berlin with Schumacher as clerk but will probably be withdrawn in a relatively short time. Major Blayney, Captain Peirce and W. H. Webb as field clerk have been sent to Cassel, Frankfort am Main and Mannheim for a period of 2 weeks to report on local conditions and similarly Lieutenant Stonestreet and A. L. Rosenthal as clerk have been dispatched to Breslau for a limited stay. It is also in contemplation soon to withdraw Dr. Field and Lieutenant Howe from Munich.