File No. 763.72Su/49
The Diplomatic Liaison Officer with the Supreme War Council ( Frazier) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 2, 12.50 p.m.]
67. To save time, the names of those present at opening session of conference2 and minutes of session will be telegraphed later.
M. Clemenceau who opened conference asked that discussion of first subject of agenda be postponed as French and British had already reached an agreement regarding; manpower. This was [Page 245] agreed to. Conference then took up second subject. Admiral di Revel opposed motion of Allied Naval Council to detach four Italian dreadnaughts from squadron at Taranto to pool them with French fleet at Corfu. Admirals de Bon and Wemyss supported motion. Clemenceau suggested that, as technical arguments had been heard, Governments represented should consider matter in private session. All present then left Council Chamber except three Prime Ministers, French Minister for Foreign Affairs, Italian Foreign Minister, Sir [Eric] Geddes1 and myself, as Mr. Lloyd George asked me to remain. Lloyd George proposed [unity] of command in the Mediterranean stating that [unity] of command in France had only been reached after a conference in the field and he hoped that the Allies would not await a naval disaster before adopting the same principle. The Italian representatives after some discussion agreed with reservations analogous to those in the Beauvais agreement.2 Mr. Lloyd George’s proposal of Admiral Jellicoe as supreme commander in the Mediterranean was adopted by the French and Italian Prime Ministers. Sir Eric Geddes then submitted a draft resolution in regard to Allied commander-in-chief in the Mediterranean which was accepted in principle by the three Prime Ministers, but its final consideration was postponed until tomorrow. Notes of this session as well as a copy of above resolution will be given to the naval attaché of the Embassy. The conference meets tomorrow at three and will probably continue Monday through Monday night. Subject 4, sub-head (1), I am informed that it will be suggested that the Supreme War Council take command of an Allied expedition in Siberia.