Frank L. Polk to Jean-Jules Jusserand

This is the last paragraph in a telegram from Acting Secretary Polk to Jusserand, August 3, 1917. See For. Rel. Supplement, 1917, 2, Vol. I, p. 153.) (Reply to Jusserand's message of July 20, 1917. For. Rel. Sup. 1917, 2. Vol. I, pp 140-141)Noting the intention of Mr. Ribot to assemble at some early date a commission to consider the feasible and practicable form and the objects of a Society of Nations, the President in response to Mr. Ribot's gracious wish for an expression of his opinion expresses the fear that such a commission if constituted at this time would be premature and unnecessarily introduce new subjects of discussion among the nations now associated against Germany. The President's own idea has been that such a Society of Nations would of necessity be an evolution rather than a creation of convention. It has been his hope and expectation that the war would close with certain definite covenants and guarantees entered into by the free nations of the world for the purpose of safeguarding their own security and the general peace of the world, and that in providing from time to time for the fulfillment of these covenants a machinery of cooperation would naturally spring into existence which would in the end produce something very like the institution of a Society of Nations. To begin with a discussion of how the Society should be constituted, under the presidency of which nation, with what common force and common command, etc., etc., would be likely to produce jealousies and difficulties which need not be faced now.With regard to the questions propounded in your 2321, July 23, the President requests you to thank M. Cambon for his kindness in submitting the questions it contains and begs that you will convey the following replies:1) If the Russian government should propose a conference for the common formulation of the objects of the war against Germany the President does not see how the suggestions could wisely be rejected. The democratic feeling of the world is demanding more and more audibly an insistent statement from the nations associated against Germany, which will show that the object of the war is not aggrandizement but the freedom of the peoples to secure independence within , and free themselves against aggression whether by physical force or successful economic arrangement. The President hopes that the issue can be met squarely and candidly.2) The President believes that if the eastern people could be satisfied on these points the movement in Austria for peace would be irresistible. The acceptance or rejection of any particular form that Austria may make and of any particular overtures she may make would necessarily depend upon their free and apparent purpose. 3) With regard to the agreement concerning Asia Minor the President feels that it would be exceedingly difficult now to conclude peace on any terms which would mean arrangements in Asia Minor for the benefit of particular nations rather than merely for the benefit and protection of the peoples of that part of the world. The sentiment of the world is now aggressively democratic, and will have to be met half way.4) The military to be with regard to the United States. 5) It is the hope of the President that the Government of France and the Government[s] of our Allies will find it possible to arrange for such a common agency as was recently proposed by the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States for determining the limit of several loans of sums to be lent to them by the Government of the United States.