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”]

Original Format

Notes

Files

http://resources.presidentwilson.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/WWI1236C.pdf

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.