Papers written by Curzon on the Near and Middle East [‎37v] (74/348)

we had advocated, and were still prepared to support, an American mandate should
alone have been sufficient to protect us from the kind of insinuation in which
Admiral Bristol appeared constantly to indulge. I should have thought that a
satisfactory solution, already very problematical, could only be retarded, and might
indeed be eventually prevented, by disagreement between the Americans and ourselves.
It was not for me to make any suggestion, still less did I desire to make an official
complaint, to the Ambassador, but if he felt disposed to take any informal steps to
moderate the attitude of Admiral Bristol, I thought that some good might be done.
While I was speaking to the Ambassador there was handed to me the telegram
which your Excellency had sent, recording your conversation with Mr. Lansing about
the possibility of hurrying-on the negotiations as to the Turkish Peace Treaty. I said
to the Ambassador that, as Mr. Lansing had suggested that, in the interests of the
debate in the Senate and of the ratification by the United States of the Peace Treaty
with Germany, it might be desirable to postpone the Turkish negotiations for another
ten days, we should of course do nothing that would at all complicate the situation in
America.
Mr. Davis said that he saw no reason why, if we so desired, we should not at once
enquire among our Allies whether they would be willing to consider the early
resumption of negotiations on that aspect of the general peace, of the desirability, and
indeed the necessity, of which he was as much convinced as we were; and, although
he knew that Mr. Polk was anxious to return to the United States to spend Christmas
with his family, he did not think that, if he were pressed to stay, there would be any
insuperable obstacle to his taking part in the negotiations, whether they were
conducted here or at Paris.
I am, &c.
CURZON OF KEDLESTON.