Arthur H. Frazier to Colonel House

American Embassy,Paris, June 1, 17. I have not written for the last two mails because so many events were in course of development that I thought it better to wait for something definite to report.
The second American commission has arrived, the railroad commission, and the French appear to be a little bewildered by the succession of two commissions with apparently full powers, each acting independently of the other and independently of the Military Mission in Paris. No doubt this will be changed with the arrival of Gen. Pershing. Both Logan and I believe that some great American administrator, acting as the personal representative of the President, should have sole and undivided authority in France in all matters pertaining to the conduct of the war.
As far as the military situation is concerned the French are practically marking time waiting for the Russians to do something before continuing the offensive begun in April; General Petain I am confidently told, is absolutely opposed to any piecemeal attack. The French are also perplexed about the shipment of munitions to Russia; there are vast quantities ready to be loaded on ships but they cannot decide whether to let them go out of the country or to hold on to them.Internally there is a good deal of unrest in Paris which is manifesting itself in the shape of strikes. This is partly due to the high cost of living which bears very heavily on the pooer classes exhausted by the severest winter Paris has known for years, and partly to a growing distrust of the Government. It was notorious, for instance, that the hospital service of the army broke down lamentably during the last offensive in the Champagne after nearly three years of experience. I fear it must be reluctantly admitted that the French have no conspicuous talent for organization.
I am glad to learn that our troops will soon arrive as their presence will have a stimulating effect upon the French morale which is drooping at the present time. If it were possible to take over the management of some of the French public services, such as transportation, provisioning, distribution of coal etc., it would be an enormous help. A great many Frenchmen think as I do on this subject but unless our people exhibited great tact there would be danger of wounding national pride.I do not think too much importance should be attached to the decision of the minority group of the Socialist Party to send delegates to the Peace Congress at Stockholm. These delegates, in case they are allowed to go, will not represent the Government and I doubt whether they will represent any considerable section of the population.
Relations with Spain are a little strained just now as the French are satisfied that Germarines submarines are being supplied with gasolene by Spanish agents. In this connection the French Navy Department have requested that the tanks of all ships (tank steamers) sailing from the United States for Spanish ports be inspected and sealed up before leaving the United States, fothe seals to be broken by consular representatives on arrival at destination. They have also requested that Cristobel Morales, commanding the Spanish liner Alfonso XIII be denied access to the ports and territories of the United States as they believe him to be an agent of the Germans who has furnished them valuable information since May 1917. This is of course for your information as it has already been communicated to our Navy Department.(Signed) Arthur Hugh Frazier