763.72119/10551: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Wallace) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 12—2:14 a.m.]
1793. Mission. Seventy-eighth meeting of Conference of Ambassadors was held Friday morning October 8, Cambon5 presiding.
1. Question of Bessarabia. I explained to my colleagues the attitude of United States Government as set forth in Department’s 1539 October 5, 7 p.m., developing same more fully, pointing out that signature of treaty at this inopportune time would bolster up Bolshevist cause with resultant far reaching and evil effects and concluding by stating that I could not understand why there should be such haste to sign the treaty immediately unless there is more in the matter than had transpired in discussion at Conference. Derby and Cambon hastened to say that there was nothing of the kind. Bonin6 stated that he had been instructed to sign if all his colleagues did; therefore he would have to forward to his Government my communication which he considered very important and which he thought should be communicated by telegraph by other colleagues to their Governments. Viscount Ishii7 sitting for first time at Conference said he was still awaiting instructions.
[Page 434]As indicated in my 1765, September 29, a note was sent last week to Roumanian Government communicating draft of treaty and stating that the Principal Allied Powers were ready to sign after October 11 and pointing out that as Roumania has not yet affixed its signature to two treaties concerning it, signed on August 10 last at Sevres, the Allies would be glad to hear that Roumania is prepared to sign them at same time as Bessarabian treaty is signed. Cambon thought signature of Bessarabian treaty should at least be postponed until Roumanian Government answers this note. Derby, however, reiterated that he hoped treaty could be signed at earliest possible moment and that he was prepared to sign even if he was only one of my colleagues who could do so. It appeared that he was only one of my colleagues who was not concerned over statement made by me pursuant to Department’s instructions.
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