Tasker Howard Bliss to Peyton C. March
Title
Tasker Howard Bliss to Peyton C. March
Creator
Bliss, Tasker Howard, 1853-1930
Identifier
WWP25256
Date
1918 October 14
Description
General Bliss writes of European coordination on Russia.
Source
Library of Congress, Woodrow Wilson Papers
Publisher
Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum
Subject
World War, 1914-1918--United States
Allied and Associated Powers (1914-1920)
Contributor
Anna Phillips
Language
English
Provenance
Document scan was taken from Library of Congress microfilm reel of the Wilson Papers. WWPL volunteers transcribed the text.
Text
SUPREME WAR COUNCIL,
AMERICAN SECTION,
VERSAILLES.
No. 29.
My dear March:
In my letter of October 9 (I think) I inclosed copies of the two Joint Notes submitted by the French Military Representative on the subject of a general allied policy in Russia and on the specific subject of sending additional American reinforcements to Archangel. I sent you also copies of the statements which I made giving my views as to the position of the United States in the matter and the reason why I felt obliged to take no official part in the action on these proposed Joint Notes. The Notes were adopted by the other Representatives, omitting any specific reference to the United States, and submitted to their governments.
Today the French Military Representative informs me by an official note that his government has approved the Joint Notes No. 36, signed by the other three Military Representatives as the subject of “L’Orientation de la Politique des Allies on Russia.” You will observe that it is not really a Joint Note because, under the habitual procedure of the War Council, a Joint Note must be signed by all of the Military Representatives. What my British, French and Italian colleagues did, in reality, was to express a Joint Opinion to their respective governments.
Yesterday afternoon Mr. Stettinius called on me and had a long talk on the subject of the Munitions Program which he has been working on with the British and French and which he thought had reached a fairly satisfactory conclusion. He tells me that he is now running up against a decided indisposition on the part of the British and the French to give us the help which they promised. This is not surprising to me because, from various little indications that have come to my notice, it seems to me somewhat evident that the European Allies will attempt to minimize the American effort as much as possible. They think that they have got the Germans on the run and that they now do not need as much help as a little while ago they were crying for.
I think I told you sometime ago that I had heard a gentleman in high position here say that the United States was building a bridge for the allies to pass over; that the time for the United States to secure acquiescence in its wishes was while the bridge was building; that after the allies had crossed over the bridge they would have no further use for it or for its builders. This may be true or not. I do not know. Qui vivra verra.
I inclose two letters just received from Marshal Foch with a request that I send them to the United States, Will you kindly have your messenger drop them in the post.
With best wishes, I am
Cordially yours,
(signed) TASKER H. BLISS
General Peyton C. March,
Chief of Staff, U.S.Army,
War Department, Washington, DC
AMERICAN SECTION,
VERSAILLES.
No. 29.
My dear March:
In my letter of October 9 (I think) I inclosed copies of the two Joint Notes submitted by the French Military Representative on the subject of a general allied policy in Russia and on the specific subject of sending additional American reinforcements to Archangel. I sent you also copies of the statements which I made giving my views as to the position of the United States in the matter and the reason why I felt obliged to take no official part in the action on these proposed Joint Notes. The Notes were adopted by the other Representatives, omitting any specific reference to the United States, and submitted to their governments.
Today the French Military Representative informs me by an official note that his government has approved the Joint Notes No. 36, signed by the other three Military Representatives as the subject of “L’Orientation de la Politique des Allies on Russia.” You will observe that it is not really a Joint Note because, under the habitual procedure of the War Council, a Joint Note must be signed by all of the Military Representatives. What my British, French and Italian colleagues did, in reality, was to express a Joint Opinion to their respective governments.
Yesterday afternoon Mr. Stettinius called on me and had a long talk on the subject of the Munitions Program which he has been working on with the British and French and which he thought had reached a fairly satisfactory conclusion. He tells me that he is now running up against a decided indisposition on the part of the British and the French to give us the help which they promised. This is not surprising to me because, from various little indications that have come to my notice, it seems to me somewhat evident that the European Allies will attempt to minimize the American effort as much as possible. They think that they have got the Germans on the run and that they now do not need as much help as a little while ago they were crying for.
I think I told you sometime ago that I had heard a gentleman in high position here say that the United States was building a bridge for the allies to pass over; that the time for the United States to secure acquiescence in its wishes was while the bridge was building; that after the allies had crossed over the bridge they would have no further use for it or for its builders. This may be true or not. I do not know. Qui vivra verra.
I inclose two letters just received from Marshal Foch with a request that I send them to the United States, Will you kindly have your messenger drop them in the post.
With best wishes, I am
Cordially yours,
(signed) TASKER H. BLISS
General Peyton C. March,
Chief of Staff, U.S.Army,
War Department, Washington, DC
Original Format
Letter
To
March, Peyton Conway, 1864-1955
Files
Collection
Citation
Bliss, Tasker Howard, 1853-1930, “Tasker Howard Bliss to Peyton C. March,” 1918 October 14, WWP25256, World War I Letters, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.