Paraphrase of Telegram from Mr. Balfour to Mr. Barclay
Title
Paraphrase of Telegram from Mr. Balfour to Mr. Barclay
Creator
United States. Department of State
Identifier
WWP25260
Date
1918 October 13
Description
British government agrees with President Wilson's fourteen points but want to propose changes.
Source
Library of Congress, Woodrow Wilson Papers
Publisher
Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum
Subject
World War, 1914-1918--Armistices
Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924
Balfour, Arthur James, 1848-1930
Contributor
Danna Faulds
Relation
WWP25257
WWP25258
WWP25259
Language
English
Provenance
Document scan was taken from Library of Congress microfilm reel of the Wilson Papers. WWPL volunteers transcribed the text.
Text
PARAPHRASE OF TELEGRAM FROM MR BALFOUR TO MR BARCLAY
President Wilson’s fourteen points as supplemented by his later utterances have apparently been accepted by the Germans.
His Majesty’s Government fully agree with the general tenour of the President’s policy but they wish to make the following observations:-
That there has been no discussion by the Associated Powers of the points at issue,
That various interpretations can be put upon certain of these points, to some of which His Majesty’s Government would object most strongly
That there are probably in existence other terms to which the President has not referred, such for instance as terms with regard to outrages on shipping on which, if full justice is to be done, we shall have to insist.
His Majesty’s Government are of opinion that in framing the conditions of armistice care must be taken to prevent the Allies from being deprived of the necessary freedom of action in the settlement of the final terms in the Peace Conference and that steps should immediately be taken by the chief belligerent Powers to discuss the doubtful points and come to some agreement amongst themselves with regard to them.
[Handwritten note in upper right corner reads: “Handed me by British Charge Oct. 14/18 RL”]
President Wilson’s fourteen points as supplemented by his later utterances have apparently been accepted by the Germans.
His Majesty’s Government fully agree with the general tenour of the President’s policy but they wish to make the following observations:-
That there has been no discussion by the Associated Powers of the points at issue,
That various interpretations can be put upon certain of these points, to some of which His Majesty’s Government would object most strongly
That there are probably in existence other terms to which the President has not referred, such for instance as terms with regard to outrages on shipping on which, if full justice is to be done, we shall have to insist.
His Majesty’s Government are of opinion that in framing the conditions of armistice care must be taken to prevent the Allies from being deprived of the necessary freedom of action in the settlement of the final terms in the Peace Conference and that steps should immediately be taken by the chief belligerent Powers to discuss the doubtful points and come to some agreement amongst themselves with regard to them.
[Handwritten note in upper right corner reads: “Handed me by British Charge Oct. 14/18 RL”]
Original Format
Notes
Collection
Citation
United States. Department of State, “Paraphrase of Telegram from Mr. Balfour to Mr. Barclay,” 1918 October 13, WWP25260, World War I Letters, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.