Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-26

conference of allied command
IN ers in chief at Senlis, October
4 IS, 1918, / cabled a report Of
the proceedings to washington,
including my proposals in detail as
enumerated in yesterdays chapter.
Marshal Foch did not definitely ex
press his views at the conference, as
may be recalled, but the following day
he submitted his report to Prime Min
lister Clemenceau. Marshal Foch's
recommendations embraced the main
points proposed by the commanders in
chief and were accepted by the
Supreme War Council with practically
no change.
Col Lloyd Griscom called Sunday.
two days after the conference, to get
my views on the terms of the arTni-
stice for Mr.. House, who did not come
himself, as he was afraid he might
catch grip. I had had an attack OF
grip the day before.
/ sent Mr.. House a copy Of my cable
to washington and offered to 20 TO see
him, but he preferred to wait until
Tuesday morning before the meeting Of
the Supreme War Council. The meet
ing was later postponed until We'd
nesday afternoon. The doctor let me
out that morning.
Meanwhile Mr.. House sent Mr.. Fra
zier, secretary of the American embassy,
with Q message to the effect that the
military considerations of an armistice
had not yet been discussed and that he
wanted me to get in touch with Mar
shals Foch and Haig to see If their
views could be reconctIed. As Foch had
not expressed his views and as Haig
had done so quite definitely, 1t did not
seem advisable for me to follow the
suggestion.
Wilson's Views Of Armistice.
As no intimation had been sent me
regarding the Presidents attitude
toward granting an armistice to the
German armies, and feeling that I
could not sit by without expressing my
opinion, prepared Q letter to send to
the Supreme War Council, giving my
views for consideration in case a deci-
sion had not been finally reached. In
my estimation the German armies were
50 badly beaten that they would have
no other recourse than to surrender If
called upon to do so.
President Wilson's comments on my
cable of October IS were received on
the 20th, as follows:
The President directs me to say that
ne Is relying upon your counsel and adj
vice in this matter, and In making the
following comments he viii be glad TO
have you feel entirely free 10 bring
TO hts attention any consideration he
may have overlooked which, In your
Judgment, ought to be weighed before
settling finally.
I'm general, the President approves
OF your first, in subparagraph, but sug-
gests wisdom Of retention of at least
part Of German heavy guns, in pledge,
and specific enumeration of territory
to be evacuated other than France and
Belgium. This has to do especially
with territory to the east and southeast,
but should not Luxembourg be also in
cluded?
With regard to your second In sub
paragraph the President raises the
question whether it is necessary for all
lied or American (forces) actually TO
occupy Alsace and Lorraine when evac.
uated under armistice
with regard to your third In SUBJ
paragraph the President doubts advis-
ability OF requiring allied or American
occupation on eastern side of the Rhine,
as that Is practically an invasion Of
German soil under armistice.
Approves Repatriation.
1.-THE President concurs in your fourth
in subparagraph TO the extent of con-
tinuing transportation for supplies of
troops then in France, but would not
insist on right to increase American
forces during arnistice.
With regard to your fifth In SUBJ
paragraph, If this means repatriation
Of troops now in German Army which
have been recruited from non-German
soil occupied by Germans, or repatria-
ton Of civil population deported from