Date and number

1918 Nov. 19

Nov. 19 (5285)

Nov. 20 (5872)

Nov. 20 (5330)

Nov. 20

Nov. 21

Nov. 21 (134)

Nov. 22

GERMANY

THE GERMAN ARMISTICE-Continued

Subject

The Swiss Minister (Sulzer) to the Secretary of State

Text of a communication from the Government of Bavaria
addressing an appeal to the Allies and calling attention to the
fears of the population of the Palatinate that they will be
interned or deported to perform forced labor.

The Minister in Switzerland (Stovall) to the Secretary of State
Letter from the Bavarian Minister of Finance to Dr. George
D. Herron, November 18 (text printed), stressing the need for
modification of the armistice terms and an early publication
of the conditions of peace.

The Minister in Switzerland (Stovall) to the Secretary of State
(tel.)

Two notes from the German Foreign Office (texts printed):
(1) asking for an extension of the period for evacuating the
left Rhine district, and including a note to that effect which
was presented to the Allied delegates on the Armistice Com-
mission by the German delegate on November 17 (text printed);
(2) asking for an alleviation of the conditions regarding the
transfer of locomotives and cars; note to this effect presented
to the Allied delegates by the German delegate on November
16, and Marshal Foch's reply that no change could be made
(texts printed).

The Minister in Switzerland (Stovall) to the Secretary of State
Memorandum calling attention of American and Allied
Governments to certain violations of the armistice conditions
by the German army of occupation in Lithuania (text
printed).

(Footnote: Information that source of memorandum is not
indicated.)

The Assistant Secretary of State (Phillips) to the French Am-
bassador (Jusserand)

Information, in reply to the Ambassador's inquiry, that the
United States is not disposed in the circumstances to raise ob-
jection at present to the action of the Netherlands Govern-
ment in permitting German troops to cross Dutch territory.

The Italian Ambassador (Macchi di Cellere) to the Assistant
Secretary of State (Phillips)

Information that Italian Government has received communi-
cation from German Government asking where its representa-
tives may meet Allied plenipotentiaries to discuss modifica-
tion of armistice; request for opinion of U. S. Government.

The Special Representative (House) to the Secretary of State (tel.)
Telegram from Clemenceau to Foch (text printed) request-
ing that the German plenipotentiaries be informed that they will
be notified of the conditions under which supplies will be fur-
nished to Germany as soon as the U. S. Government representa-
tive, Mr. Hoover, arrives in Europe.

The Swedish Legation to the Department of State

Information that German Government has made appeal through Swedish Government regarding modification of armistice conditions; regret of the Swedish Government that it does not have sufficient supplies to offer perceptible relief to German people.

Date and number

1918 Nov. 22 (6381)

[Nov. 23] (3182)

Nov. 24 (3190)

Nov. 26 (6014)

Nov. 26 (3204)

Nov. 26 (3207)

Nov. 26

Nov. 26

GERMANY

THE GERMAN ARMISTICE-Continued

Subject

The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in France (Sharp)
(tel.)

Instructions to inform Foreign Office that U. S. Government
has received through the Swiss Legation a request from the
Bavarian Government to be allowed to determine damages
in Belgium and Northern France.

(Footnote: The same, mutatis mutandis, on same date to
Minister in Belgium.)

The Chargé in Denmark (Grant-Smith) to the Secretary of State
(tel.)

Account of a conversation with two Germans not in sym-
pathy with the revolution; opinion of the two Germans that
the most potent counter measures against Spartacist influence
would be: (a) a more definite statement by President Wilson
that relief measures will be undertaken but will be extended
only to orderly communities, and (b) a definite pronouncement
by the President that no peace can be negotiated or signed
with any government not representing the whole people.
The Chargé in Denmark (Grant-Smith) to the Secretary of State
(tel.)

Information that Abrahamson, the British Red Cross dele-
gate to Berlin, had an interview with Erzberger, who begged
that the delivery of railway cars and locomotives be post-
poned until January, offering immediate delivery of 250 million
in gold as a guarantee of good faith.

The Ambassador in France (Sharp) to the Secretary of State (tel.)
Statement by M. Pichon that until the terms of the armistice
had been complied with the French Government could not
consider the request of the Bavarian Government to be allowed
to determine damages in Belgium and Northern France.
The Chargé in Denmark (Grant-Smith) to the Secretary of State
(tel.)

Description of interviews which Abrahamson had with Solf,
Eckhardt, Schlesinger, and Erzberger; Erzberger's opinion as
to what steps would have to be taken in order to avoid anarchy
in Germany; Abrahamson's suggestion as to what Germany
might do to dissipate the distrust on the part of the Allies.
Indications that interviews were sought by the Germans.
The Chargé in Denmark (Grant-Smith) to the Secretary of State
(tel.)

Report that French Minister is indignant at activities of
British Red Cross delegate, maintaining that all negotiations
concerning armistice conditions should be carried on through
Marshal Foch.

The Swiss Minister (Sulzer) to the Secretary of State

Protest of German Government, November 21, against extension of evacuation to Rhenish territory (text printed). The Swiss Minister (Sulzer) to the Secretary of State Information that German Government has noted U. S. Government's request that communications be addressed to all the Allied and Associated Powers and suggests that a central diplomatic agency be designated to receive such communications.

Date and number

1918 Nov. 26

GERMANY

THE GERMAN ARMISTICE-Continued

Subject

Page

The Secretary of State to the Italian Ambassador (Macchi di
Cellere)

33

Nov. 26

Nov. 26

Nov. 27

Nov. 30

Dec. 1 (1336)

Dec. 3 (6020)

Dec. 3 (5361)

Dec. 4

Statement, in reply to Ambassador's letter of November 21,
that U. S. Government has referred all letters concerning the
armistice to the Supreme War Council at Versailles.

The Swiss Minister (Sulzer) to the Secretary of State
Urgent request from the German Government that experts
in economics and railroad technicalities be delegated as soon as
possible to the Armistice Commission at Spa (text printed).
The Swiss Minister (Sulzer) to the Secretary of State

Communication from the German Government to the Amer-
ican, English, French, and Italian Governments (text printed)
setting forth the conditions which it considers necessary in
order to avoid a Bolshevistic state in Germany and requesting
that a place be set where German representatives may meet
Allied representatives to discuss the question.

The Swiss Minister (Sulzer) to the Secretary of State

Communication from the German Government (text printed) requesting a modification of the measures which have been taken by the Allies whereby all communications between Alsace-Lorraine and other parts of Germany are interrupted. The British Embassy to the Department of State

Request for the views of the U. S. Government in regard to issuing a statement to allay the fears which the populations of Bavaria and the Palatinate have of being interned or deported for compulsory labor.

The British Chargé (Barclay) to the Secretary of State

Inquiry as to U. S. views concerning the custody of Russian and Roumanian gold which Germany is bound to turn over to the Allies.

(Footnote: Notation on document as to the Secretary's
opinion that France should hold gold in trust for creditor
nations until disposed of by the Peace Conference.)

The Minister in Switzerland (Stovall) to the Secretary of State
(tel.)

Communication received from Swiss Political Department
on behalf of German Legation (text printed) explaining the
situation of Mackensen's army in Hungary and stating that
Germany expects to be allowed to present its standpoint again
in a conference with the Armistice Commission.

The Minister in Switzerland (Stovall) to the Secretary of State

Note from the German Minister in Switzerland to the Presi-
dent of the Swiss Federal Council, November 21 (text printed),
requesting that there be transmitted to the British, French,
and U. S. Governments the statement which the German
military representative transmitted to the Armistice Delega-
tion at Spa, November 18 (text printed), setting forth the
alleviations in armistice conditions necessary to prevent
anarchy in Germany.

The Swiss Minister (Sulzer) to the Acting Secretary of State
German Government's protest to the U. S. Government
against the harshness of the terms of the armistice (text
printed).

GERMANY

THE GERMAN ARMISTICE-Continued

Subject

The Acting Secretary of State to the Minister in Switzerland
(Stovall) (tel.)

Statement that telegram No. 6020, of December 3, cannot
be considered unless it is communicated simultaneously to
Associated Governments.

The Acting Secretary of State to the Swiss Minister (Sulzer)
Request that Swiss Government be informed that United
States would prefer not to receive from German Government
any communications which concern all of the Associated
Governments unless they are sent also to the other govern-
ments concerned.

The Acting Secretary of State to the Swiss Minister (Sulzer)
Statement that the Supreme War Council at Versailles is a
central agency which can receive and consider the wishes of
the German Government.

The Minister in Switzerland (Stovall) to the Commission to
Negotiate Peace

Copy of a note from the Swiss Political Department to
the American Legation in Switzerland, December 7 (text
printed), enclosing four documents and requesting that they
be transmitted to U. S. Government (texts printed): (1)
request from German Government for additional facilities
for repatriating Russian and Roumanian prisoners of war,
(2) German Government's suggestion, November 28, that
questions concerning resumption of telegraphic communication
be considered, (3) suggestion, November 22, of Austro-
German Government for revictualing Austro-German prov-
inces, (4) German Government's request that Mr. Hoover be
empowered to organize the import of foodstuffs into Germany.
The Acting Secretary of State to the British Charge (Barclay)

Information that the question of issuing a statement to
reassure the population of Bavaria and the Palatinate has
been referred to the representatives of the Associated Govern-
ments at Paris.

The Minister in Switzerland (Stovall) to the Commission to
Negotiate Peace

Protest by the Secretary of State in the German Foreign
Office (text printed) against the decision of Marshal Foch
whereby all traffic is stopped between the evacuated territories
and the other parts of Germany.

The Assistant Secretary of the Treasury (Rathbone) to the Acting
Secretary of State

Letter from the Deputy French High Commissioner, Decem-
ber 11 (text printed), advising of the receipt by the Bank of
France of 91,000 kilograms of gold representing gold payments
made by Russia to Germany under terms of the Brest-Litovsk
Treaty.

The Acting Secretary of State to the Commission to Negotiate
Peace (tel.)

For the President from McCormick: Report of a movement
to abolish all censorship in the United States; belief that such
action would have unfortunate effect; request for President's
views.

Page

44

45

45

46

48

49

50

51

GERMANY

THE GERMAN ARMISTICE-Continued

Subject

The Commission to Negotiate Peace to the Acting Secretary of
State (tel.)

For Polk from Auchincloss: The President's agreement
with views of McCormick that censorship should be maintained
insofar as it is part of the blockade.

The Chargé in Denmark (Osborne) to the Commission to Nego-
tiate Peace (tel.)

Opinion that blockade in the Baltic should be either entirely
abandoned or strictly enforced.

The Minister in Switzerland (Stovall) to the Acting Secretary of
State

Note from the German Minister in Switzerland, December
24, 1918, transmitted through the Swiss Political Department
(text printed), requesting that the U. S. Government be
informed that all notes addressed to it by the German Govern-
ment have also been addressed to all Allied Governments since
the date when the United States requested that such action
be taken.

The Minister in Switzerland (Stovall) to the Commission to
Negotiate Peace

Note from the German Legation, December 28, 1918, trans-
mitted through the Swiss Political Department, asking for
Swiss intervention to the end that German troops and civilians
be returned from Turkey through the Mediterranean rather
than by way of the Ukraine (text printed).

The Minister in the Netherlands (Garrett) to the Acting Secretary
of State (tel.)

Statement issued by Foreign Office, January 5, to the
effect that under certain conditions the British Government
may transport troops and stocks via the Scheldt River (text
printed).

The Chargé in Denmark (Osborne) to the Commission to Nego-
tiate Peace (tel.)

56

Definite evidence that the British Navy is making no attempt to enforce the Baltic blockade.

Jan. 7

57

The Liaison Officer for General Pershing (Hayes) to the Secretary
of the Commission to Negotiate Peace (Grew)
For General Churchill and Mr. Grew: General Pershing's
opinion that it is now virtually impossible for Germany to
resume hostilities and that it is unnecessary to retain so large
an Allied force as the 120 or 140 divisions recommended by
Marshal Foch.

The Liaison Officer for General Pershing (Hayes) to the Secretary
of the Commission to Negotiate Peace (Grew)

For General Churchill and Mr. Grew: Total number of
American Expeditionary Forces in various areas on December
31, 1918.

The Minister in Belgium (Whitlock) to the Acting Secretary of
State (tel.)

Rejection by Belgian Government of Bavarian Government's
request to be allowed to establish the amount of damage done
by German troops in Belgium.

58

58